Sinha, a 1979 batch IPS officer of Bihar cadrde, was the Special Director in CBI.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, cleared the name of Anil Kumar Sinha who was among the
candidates shortlisted by the search committee earier Tuesday evening.
The term of Sinha will be for two years from the date he takes charge, an official notification said.
Earlier in the day, Modi held discussions with the Chief Justice of
India and leader of the main Opposition in Lok Sabha on selecting a new
CBI head.
The panel discussed the names of about 40 officers shortlisted by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), sources said.
@BJ-03.12
Nuclear-capable Agni-IV successfully test-fired
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 Updated on : 02-12-2014 12:35 PM
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India
on Tuesday successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable strategic
ballistic missile Agni-IV, with a strike range of about 4000 km from a
test range off the Odisha coast.
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This was the fourth trial of Agni-IV missile. The last trial was carried
out successfully on 20th January this year from the same test range off
Odisha coast.
Supported by a mobile launcher, the sleek missile was flight tested from
the launch complex-4 of Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Wheeler Island,
at about 1020 hours.
The test conducted by the specially formed Strategic Force Command (SFC)
was successful, said Ravi Kumar Gupta, Director of the Directorate of
Public Interface, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
"The sophisticated surface-to-surface missile is equipped with modern
and compact avionics to provide high level of reliability," sources
said.
Agni-IV missile is equipped with state of the art Avionics, 5th
generation On Board Computer and distributed architecture. It has the
latest features to correct and guide itself for in-flight disturbances.
The most accurate Ring Laser Gyro based Inertial Navigation System
(RINS) and supported by highly reliable redundant Micro Navigation
System (MINGS), ensures the vehicle reach the target within two digit
accuracy.
The re-entry heat shield can withstand temperatures in the range of 4000
degree centigrade and makes sure the avionics function normally with
inside temperature remaining less than 50 degree centigrade.
Agni-I, II and III and Prithvi are already in the arsenal of armed
forces, giving them reach of over 3000 km, giving India an effective
deterrence capability, they said.
Radars and electro-optical systems positioned along the coast of Odisha
tracked and monitored all the parameters of the missile, the sources
said adding two Indian naval ships anchored near the target area
witnessed the final event.
(DD-2.12)
India first to adopt monitoring framework on NCD
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 Updated on : 03-12-2014 02:38 AM
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India
was the first country to adopt the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD)
global monitoring framework and action plan, Union Health Minister J.P.
Nadda told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
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A comprehensive national action plan was organised by the health
ministry and the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country office for
India in Guwahati (Nov 29-30, 2013), Bengaluru (Dec 13-14, 2013) and
Delhi (Dec 19-20, 2013), said Nadda in a written reply.
"Participants included over 250 senior health officials from the
national, sub-national level (from all states and union territories),
experts and civil society representatives," Nadda said.
"Various NCD programmes are being implemented in the country such as the
National Programme of Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE), the National
Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) and the National Mental Health
Programme (NMHP)," he added.
@BJ-03.12
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Peru Summit: Over 190 nations negotiate historic climate deal
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 Updated on : 02-12-2014 01:23 PM
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Amid
rising emissions and 2014 threatening to be the hottest year in
history, India and representatives from over 190 nations began talks at
the UN climate summit on a new ambitious and binding deal to cut global
carbon emissions ahead of next year's deadline.
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The 12-day meeting has to agree on a draft agreement which would form
the cornerstone of a historic deal to be signed in Paris in December
2015 and take effect by 2020.
During the opening ceremony, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change Christiana Figueres asked negotiators to
"make history" at the Peru Summit.
"We need to put on the table the draft of a new universal climate agreement," she told delegates in Lima.
"2014 is threatening to be the hottest year in history and emissions continue to rise. We need to act urgently."
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Excise duty on petrol, diesel raised; no impact on prices
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 Updated on : 02-12-2014 03:34 PM
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Government
on Tuesday raised excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 2.25 and Rs 1 a
litre respectively, but consumers will be spared of price hike.
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The move, which comes amid declining prices of crude oil in the
international market, will boost government revenue and help it contain
the fiscal deficit.
The revised excise duty on petrol and diesel came into effect from Tuesday, official sources said.
The move will have no impact on retail prices of petrol and diesel, they
said. This is the second hike in excise duty in three weeks.
On 12th November the government had raised the excise duty by Rs 1.50
per litre on both petrol and diesel but that did not have any impact on
the retail prices.
In view of the declining prices of crude, oil marketing companies had on
Monday cut petrol price by 91 paise a litre, the seventh reduction
since August, and diesel by 84 paise per litre, the third straight cut.
The hike in excise duty is expected to yield an additional Rs 4,000 core
in the remaining part of the current fiscal. The addition from the
earlier increase is expected to be Rs 6,000 crore.
The international crude oil price of Indian Basket as computed by
Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) was USD 67.72 (Rs 4,208.12)
per barrel (bbl) yesterday, down from USD 70.29 per bbl on 28th
November.
The hike in excise duty will help government mop taxes as it was facing
challenges on the indirect tax front on account of slowdown in economic
activities.
(DD-2.12)
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WTO impasse over, India's food security concerns taken on board
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 Updated on : 01-12-2014 02:04 PM
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Ending
months-long deadlock, the WTO on Thursday approved a trade facilitation
pact while agreeing to India's demand for continuing the peace clause
till a permanent solution is found to the food stockpiling issue,
crucial for continuing food security scheme.
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"Until a permanent solution is agreed and adopted...(WTO) members shall
not challenge through the WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism, compliance
of a developing Member with its obligations ...of the Agreement on
Agriculture in relation to support provided for traditional staple food
crops in pursuance of public stock-holding programmes for food security
purposes existing as of the date of the Bali Decision," the WTO said in
Geneva on Thursday.
The WTO's General Council, the highest decision making body met in
Geneva and accepted India's demand for extending the peace clause till a
permanent solution is found for its food stockpiling issue.
It said that if a permanent solution for the issue of public
stock-holding is not agreed and adopted by the 11th Ministerial
Conference (2017), "the mechanism...shall continue to be in place until a
permanent solution is agreed and adopted".
The historic trade facilitation agreement (TFA) would now need to be
ratified by governments of individual member countries, including India,
for coming into effect which is expected some time next year.
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LPG rate cut by Rs 113, jet fuel prices by 4.1 pc
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 Updated on : 02-12-2014 01:04 PM
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Price of non-subsidised cooking gas (LPG) has been slashed by a steep Rs
113 per cylinder and that of jet fuel (ATF) by 4.1 percent as
international oil rates slumped to multi-year lows.
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A 14.2-kg cylinder of non-subsidised LPG will now cost Rs 752, down
from Rs 865 previously, in Delhi, oil companies announced on Monday.
This is the fifth straight reduction in rates of non-subsidised or
market priced LPG, which the customers buy after exhausting their quota
of 12 cylinders at subsidised rates, since August.
In five monthly reduction, non-domestic LPG rates have been slashed by
Rs 170.5 per cylinder, bringing the price at three-year lows.
On similar lines, the price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF), or jet fuel,
at Delhi was cut by Rs 2,594.93 per kilolitre, or 4.1 per cent, to Rs
59,943 per kl. This is the fifth straight monthly reduction in rates.
This reduction follows a steep 7.3 pr cent or Rs 4,987.7 per kl, cut in prices on November 1.
Since August, ATF prices have been cut by 14.5 per cent or Rs 10,218.76
per kl and rates have dipped below Rs 60,000 per kl level for the first
time in three years.
Brent, the benchmark grade for more than half of the world's oil, have
dropped to USD 68.34 a barrel, the lowest level since October 2009.
Prices declined 18 per cent last month and are 38 per cent lower in
2014.
In Mumbai, jet fuel will cost Rs 61,695 per kl from today as against Rs
64,414.98 per kl previously. The rates vary because of differences in
local sales tax or VAT.
(AKS-01/12)
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Will try to introduce GST Bill in current Par session: Jaitley
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 Updated on : 02-12-2014 09:46 AM
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Finance
Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday expressed hope that the much-awaited
GST Bill, which provides for a uniform indirect tax structure, would be
introduced in the current winter session of Parliament.
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"We will try and introduce GST (Goods and Services Tax) Bill in this
session...GST Bill would be taken up by the Cabinet after Empowered
Committee (of state finance Minister) meeting on December 12," he said
in New Delhi on Monday.
The government has proposed to implement GST from 1st April 2016, and
the new Finance Commission may be set up ahead of its schedule to look
into the issues related to the new indirect tax regime.
The GST will subsume indirect taxes like excise duty and service tax at
the central level and VAT on the states front, besides local levies.
There are differences between the Centre and states on some issues with
regard to the implementation of GST that includes the revenue neutral
rate and keeping petroleum, liquor out of the ambit.
While a sub-committee on GST has suggested that the revenue neutral rate
of GST be pegged at about 27 percent, the states are yet to decide on
it.
It had suggested states GST at 13.91 percent and Central GST at 12.77 percent.
Besides, states have been demanding that petroleum, alcohol and tobacco should be kept out of the purview of GST.
The GST Constitutional Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the Lok
Sabha in 2011, had lapsed and the NDA government will be required to
come up with a fresh bill.
The GST rollout has missed several deadlines because of lack of
consensus among states over certain crucial issues on the new tax
regime.
(DD-1.12)
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Stop cow smuggling along Indo-Bangla border: Rajnath to BSF
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 Updated on : 02-12-2014 09:50 AM
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BSF
personnel should check the smuggling of cattle, especially cows, from
India-Bangladesh border and clamp it down at any cost, Home Minister
Rajnath Singh said on Monday.
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"You (BSF) have to work on many frontiers. You have to strive to stop
illegal infiltration from Bangladesh, deal with narcotics, fake currency
notes being smuggled from this border.
"I want to tell BSF jawans and officers that you should stop the
smuggling of cows (at this border) at any cost and if you are doing that
already I compliment you for that," the Home Minister said while
delivering his speech during the 49th Raising Day celebrations of the
force at New Delhi on Monday.
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Director General Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed was also among those attended the event.
Cow is revered by the Hindus and the RSS and its affiliated associations
have been vocal about the illegal transport of cows and other cattle
across the border for slaughtering.
The 4,096km Indo-Bangla border is guarded by the Border Security Force,
with BGB the counterpart on other side, and this frontier is notorious
for smuggling of cattle, narcotics and fake Indian currency notes.
The Home Minister also lauded the country's largest border guarding
force, which also guards the Indo-Pak border, for giving a befitting
reply to Pakistan during the recent spate of ceasefire violations.
"You showed a lot of patience during these ceasefire violations despite
Pakistan provoking and doing repeated violations. It is because of your
hardwork that no one can cast its evil eye on India. You have a glint of
patriotism on your faces today," he said.
The Home Minister also sounded words of caution for neighbouring
countries when reporters, on the sidelines of the event, asked him about
the emergence of terror groups like ISIS and similar activities on the
eastern flank related to Burdwan blasts.
"A threat is threat. I think even in our neighbouring countries anywhere
when these terrorist organisations raise their heads then definitely
all neighbouring countries should take precautions because no one can
remain untouched (by their activities)," he said after the event at a
BSF camp.
Singh added that the security mechanism of the country has devised plans
to stop and check such terrorist activities and these measures were
also discussed during the recently held conference of the top police
brass of the country in Guwahati.
He said he cannot rule out further arrests in the ISIS terror case in
which one Mumbai-based youth has been arrested recently by the NIA.
Talking about the security of public rallies of BJP President Amit Shah
in West Bengal, he said that it was the "responsibility of the state
government to see that no untoward incident happens" during such events.
Rajnath lauded the role played by BSF during the 1971 war with Pakistan
as he called them the country's "first line of defence" which stood
shoulder-to-shoulder with Army.
He also asked the BSF to bring out a booklet and inscribe the names of
its 1,700 martyrs on the memorial established by the force, on lines of
Prime Minister Narendra Modi making a similar suggestion to the top
police brass of the country in Guwahati on Sunday.
"You should profile each and every one of your 1,700 martyrs," he asked the force.
Singh also complimented the force on implementing an innovative border
area surveillance platform which is a live visual communication link
which can beam real-time images of the border posts and locations to the
headquarters in the national capital.
He said BSF has stood the test of time along the western border every time.
"Our BSF jawans are most concerned about 'Rashtriya Swabhiman'. People
of India are by and large peaceful by nature but if anyone dares to
challenge our sense of pride BSF will give a befitting reply," he said.
The Home Minister said he was trying to solve the problems of the troops
of the force which he felt were not getting their legitimate dues.
"I assure you that we will find solutions to your problems with all the might I have," he told the jawans and officers.
During the event, BSF Director General D K Pathak said the Union Home
Ministry has accorded in-principle approvals to some of the
infrastructural and operational requirements of the force in border
areas which now require a final sanction from the government.
Pathak said final financial approvals are required by the force to have
274 border posts with drinking water lines, Rs 464 crore for
constructing operational 'nakas' and observation posts on both the
Bangla and Pakistan borders and Rs 90 crore for creating 393 advanced
fibre huts at the Line of Control (LoC).
The BSF was raised in 1965 and at present has 178 battalions with over 2.5 lakh personnel in its ranks.
In separate messages, President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Modi too congratulated the force on its anniversary.
"BSF has earned a formidable reputation by the dint of its hard work,
devotion & sacrifices in service of nation. On the 49th BSF Day, I
convey my greetings & felicitations to all ranks of the BSF &
their families," the President said through his official Twitter handle.
"On BSF Raising Day, we salute our personnel, who tirelessly &
courageously protect our borders.Their dedication & valour always
inspire," Modi tweeted.
(DD-1.12)
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Adelaide to host 1st India-Australia Test
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 Updated on : 01-12-2014 10:04 PM
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The
first cricket Test between India and Australia will be held in Adelaide
from December 9 after the four-match series' schedule was revised on
Monday in the wake of young player Phillip Hughes' tragic death which
left the home team distraught.
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"Revised
Schedule: 1st Test (Dec 9-13), 2nd Test (Dec 17-21), 3rd Test (Dec
26-30) and 4th Test (Jan 6-10). Venues: 1st Test (Adelaide), 2nd Test
(Brisbane), 3rd Test (Melbourne) and 4th Test (Sydney) #AUSvsIND," the
BCCI said on its official twitter handle.
Hughes' funeral would be held in Macksville on Wednesday. The entire
Australian team, Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli, visiting side's
coach Duncan Fletcher and Team Director Ravi Shastri will attend the
funeral of the young batsman, who would have turned 26 on Sunday.
The first Test was originally scheduled to start on December 4 in Brisbane, which has now become the venue for the second match.
The Adelaide Test was originally scheduled to start from December 12.
The second Test in Brisbane will start on December 16, followed by
Melbourne on December 26 and the final match in Sydney, starting January
6.
A two-day tour game featuring a CA XI was cancelled last week, but India
might get an opportunity to play a practice match later this week.
The tourists were due to fly to Brisbane on Monday, but put off their
travelling plans until the venue and dates for the first Test were
confirmed.
"The Indian side will remain in Adelaide until details for the first Test have been confirmed," CA had tweeted.
Australian players were left in mourning after Hughes lost his life on
being hit by a bouncer during a domestic game here last week.
Australian captain Michael Clarke, who described Hughes as his little
brother, were among the players who broke down publicly and penned
emotional tributes to the youngster.
(JM-01.12)
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ENTERTAINMENT
Restored 'Garm Hawa' for younger generation: M S Sathyu
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 Updated on : 15-11-2014 01:56 PM
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A digitally restored version of 1973 classic 'Garm Hawa', which
portrays the dilemma of a Muslim family after Partition, has hit the big
screen again.
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Its director M S Sathyu, who made the film on a shoe-string budget in
the '70s, says the digitally re-mastered movie is for younger generation
as they should know what took place in 1947.
"It is a story
that was told with a lot of passion and dedication. You can see that in
the performances, dialogues and photography. The re-mastered release is
an attempt to reintroduce the film to the youth.
They need to know what happened during Partition.
They should be aware of the pain and sorrow that people went through at that time," Sathyu said in an interview.
The post-Partition saga, restored by Indikino Edutainment, hit theatres
yesterday in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune and
Ahmedabad on Friday through PVR Director's Rare.
Based on an
unpublished story by Ismat Chugtai, the film had some of the best
creative minds coming together be it writers Kaifi Azmi, Shama Zaidi or
actors like Balraj Sahni, Dinanath Zutshi, Farooq Shaikh and A K Hangal.
The story revolved around Agra's Mirza family which starts to tear apart after Partition.
Elder brother Halim Mirza decides to immigrate to Pakistan as he feels
there is no future for Muslims in India while his younger brother Salim,
played by Sahni, stays back in hope of a better time only to see things
get worse.
Recalling the problems that the 84-year-old director
faced during the release of his film, Sathyu said this is a proper time
to look back at the story.
"It is a very sensitive subject and
it needed to be handled carefully. The film never lost its relevance and
it has improved technically after restoration. The marketing is huge
today unlike in the 70s," the director said.
R D Deshpanday of
Indikino Edutainment, said the initial plan was to restore the film for a
DVD release but once they watched the film, they decided to restore it
for a theatrical release.
"It required to be restored for big
screen. It was not released in a proper way in 1973. We wanted to take
it to more people as it is a timeless classic.
We have worked on
the audio and video. It is now technically at par with today's films.
It took us three and a half years and more than Rs one crore to restore
the film," Deshpanday said.
He said after 'Garm Hawa' they want to restore other old classics including silent-era films.
(MK-15/11)
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Goa Short Film Festival opens with German film
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 Updated on : 17-09-2014 01:35 PM
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German short film 'Siblings' on Wednesday opened the two-day Goa Short
Film Festival (GSFF), which will showcase around 80 films from 10
countries.
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The eight-minute-long short film, directed by Joya Thome, depicts the
emotional upheavals within a family living in rural Germany.
The
festival, being held for the first time, is organised by Pune-based
Marathi Chitrapat Parivar, an association formed by journalists which
has been organising the Pune Short Film Festival for last five years.
"In Goa we have associated with state-run Entertainment Society of Goa
and the festival would be an annual feature here," the association's
founder director, Yogesh Baraskar, said.
However, the Goa event is not similar to the Pune Short Film Festival.
"This is not a replica of Pune festival. We have different short films showcased here.
The filmmakers are given option whether to screen their movies in Goa
or Pune or both," Baraskar said, adding that 10 countries, including the
US, UK, Spain, Brazil, Bangladesh, Chile, Germany and Ghana, are
participating in the festival.
"There are more films from
American and South American countries. In GSFF there are total 80 films
of which 35 are from India, many are Tamil films," he said.
The
festival will also screen six Konkani short films by Goan filmmakers, he
said. The event is put up by journalists from Pune, who cover films.
"Five years back we started the organisation to give a platform to amateur filmmakers, specially to the short films," he said.
"Feature films have lot of platforms but when it comes to short films, they don't have any.
I have attended IFFI in Goa here, they are not promoting short films," Baraskar said.
The festival, when started half-a-decade back in Pune, received only 26 entries and that too from Maharashtra.
"Now in Pune festival, we have 530 films from 32 countries.
The GSFF had 220 entries and the selection committee zeroed-in on only
80 out of them," he said. The festival will end tomorrow with an award
function for best short films.
(MK-17/09)
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Ousted selection panel member back on Indian Panorama jury
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 Updated on : 23-09-2014 01:26 PM
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A
former member of the selection committee for the Indian Panorama
section in the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), who was
ousted four years ago for allegedly leaking names of the selected films,
has once again been appointed to the same jury for the event in 2014.
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SCIENTIFIC
Blu-ray discs could boost solar cell efficiency
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 Updated on : 26-11-2014 02:11 PM
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Blu-ray discs can be used to boost solar cell performance by improving light absorption, a new study has found.
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Already
one of the best ways to store high-definition movies and television
shows because of their high-density data storage, Blu-ray discs also
improve the performance of solar cells - suggesting a second use for
unwanted discs, according to researchers from Northwestern University.
The team discovered that the pattern of information written on a
Blu-ray disc works very well for improving light absorption across the
solar spectrum.
"We had a hunch that Blu-ray discs might work
for improving solar cells, and, to our delight, we found the existing
patterns are already very good," said Jiaxing Huang, an associate
professor of materials science and engineering in the McCormick School
of Engineering and Applied Science.
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Drinking decaf coffee may be good for liver
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 Updated on : 10-10-2014 02:15 PM
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Drinking decaffeinated coffee may benefit liver health, according to a new study.
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Researchers
from the National Cancer Institute in the US found that higher coffee
consumption, regardless of caffeine content, was linked to lower levels
of abnormal liver enzymes.
This suggests that chemical compounds in coffee other than caffeine may help protect the liver.
"Prior
research found that drinking coffee may have a possible protective
effect on the liver. However, the evidence is not clear if that benefit
may extend to decaffeinated coffee," said lead researcher Dr. Qian Xiao
from the National Cancer Institute.
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Wine only good for heart when you exercise: Study
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 Updated on : 02-09-2014 03:49 PM
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Drinking
moderate amounts of wine may provide protection against heart disease -
but only in people who exercise, a new study has found.
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According
to the study by Professor Milos Taborsky from the Czech Republic, wine
only protects against cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people who
exercise.
"This is the first randomised trial comparing the effects of red
and white wine on markers of atherosclerosis in people at mild to
moderate risk of CVD.
We found that moderate wine drinking was only protective in
people who exercised. Red and white wine produced the same results,"
Taborsky said.
The study is the first long-term, prospective randomised trial
comparing the effect of red and white wine on markers of
atherosclerosis. It included 146 people with mild to moderate risk of
cardiovascular disease.
Participants were randomised to one year of moderate consumption
of red wine or white wine from the same year and wine region of the
Czech Republic. Participants kept a logbook on their consumption of wine
and other alcoholic beverages, medication use, and amount and type of
exercise.
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Thank you!----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
========================Hi to all Goood Morning===========================
President releases book on Rajendra Prasad
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 Updated on : 03-12-2014 11:16 PM
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President Pranab Mukherjee Wednesday received the first copy of a
coffee-table book written by parliamentarian Karan Singh on the first
President of India Rajendra Prasad.
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The book, "Remembering Baba Dr Rajendra Prasad", was unveiled at an event held at at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.
Speaking on the occasion, Mukherjee recalled the inspiring saga of the
former President's life and said it was an occasion to pay our tributes
to him. He said the book would serve to not just keep Prasad's memory
alive but also be of value to researchers and historians.
"The life of Babu Rajendra Prasad is still a subject of great curiosity
to this generation as well as the next. Rajen Babu made enormous
contribution to not only the freedom struggle but also in drafting of
the Constitution. During meetings of the Constituent Assembly, many
differences surfaced amongst members on various issues. Rajen Babu
handled these issues very ably and without his efforts, it would not
have been possible to resolve many of them.
The President said he continues to use the writing table used by Prasad
in his personal study and has decided that it should be moved to the
museum after his term.
(IM- 03.12)
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US favours India-Pak dialogue
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 Updated on : 03-12-2014 01:26 PM
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The US has said it favours a dialogue between India and Pakistan, but it
is up to the two countries to decide the "pace" and the "scope" of
discussions on security issues.
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"Just recently this past weekend there was a handshake and some
discussion between the two leaders at the SAARC Summit that led to the
signing of some agreements on energy and motorways and rail cars," US
Ambassadorial nominee for India Richard Verma told members of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday.
"I think what we can do is continue to encourage that kind of dialogue,"
he said. "But ultimately it is for the Indians and the Pakistanis to
discuss the security issues," Verma said.
Responding to a question on India-Pakistan relations, Verma said there
was promise when Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited India for
the inauguration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May.
"But again, on the security issues themselves, the pace, the character
and the scope of those discussions between Pakistan and India are
ultimately up to the two countries," he said.
Verma said it is the "regional connectivity" which would increase people-to-people ties in South Asia.
"I think the trade right now between India and Pakistan stands around
USD 3 billion, which is a very small sum compared to what it could be.
"To the extent that greater trade, economic infrastructure, energy
development can be made through the countries, that will naturally help
increase connectivity outside of the government."
He said: "Where we can help is on the regional connectivity issues and
on the economic and people-to-people issues between the two countries.
"This is something I think the three countries have to work at very
hard."
(AKS-03/12)
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India moving with speed to rebuild global partnerships: Swaraj
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 Updated on : 03-12-2014 03:53 PM
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The government has moved with "rarely seen" speed and resolve to rebuild
India's partnerships across the world, setting new milestones, External
Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on
Wednesday.
Anil Kumar Sinha takes over as new CBI Chief
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 Updated on : 03-12-2014 03:37 PM
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Anil Kumar Sinha, a 1979-batch IPS officer on Wednesday took over the
reins of CBI at a time when the agency is facing criticism from courts
over its handling of probe in coal allocation and 2G scams.
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Hike in excise duty aimed to meet budget deficit: Pradhan
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 Updated on : 03-12-2014 02:31 PM
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A day after the government hiked excise duty on petrol and diesel for
the second time in three weeks, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on
Wednesday said the move was meant to shore up revenue to meet budget
deficit without burdening the consumer.
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PM inaugurates second unit of Palatana power project
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 Updated on : 02-12-2014 10:16 AM
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PM
Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the second unit of ONGC Tripura
Power Company (OTPC) powered Palatana power project in Udaipur and
dedicated it to the nation saying development would be ushered in the
North East on the basis of a four-point revolution.
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Addressing
a gathering at the inaugural ceremony, the Prime Minister said that the
Centre had a long term project in mind for developing the region
through modern connectivity in rail, road, air and waterways.
Modi identified the four pronged strategy the Centre had in mind to
develop the region -- the second green revolution, the white revolution,
the saffron revolution and the blue revolution.
Stating that the NDA government held a positive approach to developing
the NE region in the days ahead. "The NE region holds huge potential in
tourism, energy and natural resources that can't be matched with many
other regions of the country".
Elaborating the point, the Prime Minister said, "We have had our green
revolution. Now the NE should find its place as a major producer in the
international market as the second green revolution is underway". The PM
urged for strategic policies and practices in developing organic
farming in the region.
Modi also stated that the region should take pro-active steps in
integrating itself with the white revolution. NER holds huge potential
in furthering its present situation in milk production, he stated.
Modi said that his government would work towards introducing saffron
revolution in the NE region along with the rest of the country.
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PM inaugurates second unit of Palatana power project
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Updated on : 02-12-2014 10:16 AM
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PM
Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the second unit of ONGC Tripura
Power Company (OTPC) powered Palatana power project in Udaipur and
dedicated it to the nation saying development would be ushered in the
North East on the basis of a four-point revolution.
|
Addressing
a gathering at the inaugural ceremony, the Prime Minister said that the
Centre had a long term project in mind for developing the region
through modern connectivity in rail, road, air and waterways.
Modi identified the four pronged strategy the Centre had in mind to
develop the region -- the second green revolution, the white revolution,
the saffron revolution and the blue revolution.
Stating that the NDA government held a positive approach to developing
the NE region in the days ahead. "The NE region holds huge potential in
tourism, energy and natural resources that can't be matched with many
other regions of the country".
Elaborating the point, the Prime Minister said, "We have had our green
revolution. Now the NE should find its place as a major producer in the
international market as the second green revolution is underway". The PM
urged for strategic policies and practices in developing organic
farming in the region.
Modi also stated that the region should take pro-active steps in
integrating itself with the white revolution. NER holds huge potential
in furthering its present situation in milk production, he stated.
Modi said that his government would work towards introducing saffron
revolution in the NE region along with the rest of the country.
"Saffron is considered as the colour of energy. We need to exploit the
huge potential of natural gas reserves in the region and water resource
to harvest larger energy requirements", he said.
The water based energy and internal waterways were the next big
possibilities in the region, Modi said and termed it as the blue
revolution.
He said that the central government wanted to develop a gas based Urea
fertiliser plant in the region besides, other key projects including a
petro-chemical hub as earlier suggested by Tripura Chief Minister Manik
Sarkar.
Responding to a request from Tawfique-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Advisor to
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Tripura Chief Minister Manik
Sarkar who attended the inaugural ceremony today, the Prime Minister
said that the Government of India was ready to sell 100 MW power to
Bangladesh.
The issue was earlier agreed upon during a meeting of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed.
The Palatana power plant would be generating power to Tripura and all
other states of the NE region besides, its contribution to the national
grid.
Bhopal demands justice 30 years after deadliest industrial disaster
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 Updated on : 03-12-2014 04:25 PM
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Hundreds
of survivors of the Bhopal gas leak took to the streets Wednesday to
mark the 30th anniversary of the world's worst industrial disaster, with
protests demanding harsher punishments for those responsible and more
compensation for the victims of the tragedy.
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Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attended a memorial service in
Bhopal where a moment of silence observed to pay tribute to the victims
of the Gas tragedy.
Paying tributes to the victims, Chouhan said it must be ensured that no
other city ever experiences what Bhopal did years ago. An all religion
prayer meet was organised to pay tributes.
Commemorating the lives lost in the tragedy, Chauhan stressed on the
need for balance between nature and development. He said strong safety
measures are essential for development.
On the morning of Dec. 3, 1984, a pesticide plant run by Union Carbide
leaked about 27 tons of deadly methyl isocyanate gas into the air of
Bhopal city, quickly killing about 4,000 people.
Lingering effects of the poison pushed the death toll to about 15,000
over the next few years, according to government estimates.
Around 500,000 people were affected in this incident.
Thirty years later, activists say thousands of children are born with
brain damage, missing palates and twisted limbs because of their
parents' exposure to the gas or water contaminated by it.
In the poor neighborhoods behind the Union Carbide plant, where the
worst of the tragedy unfolded, survivors and their relatives and
supporters burned effigies of Warren Anderson, who headed Union Carbide
Corp. at the time of the leak, and a banner emblazoned with the logo of
Dow Chemical Co., which bought Union Carbide.
Angry protesters spit on the effigies and some young boys urinated on them before they were set on fire.
Anderson died in September in a nursing home in Vero Beach, Florida.
Just after the disaster, Anderson traveled to India, where he was
arrested. He left the country while free on bail and never returned.
In 2011, the Indian government made a renewed push to extradite
Anderson, then 90, from the United States, without success. Prosecutors
wanted to try him on culpable-homicide charges.
Anderson remained a focus of much of the anger of those who survived the
gas leak, a symbol of what they perceive as the lack of accountability
of big multinational corporations.
Dow Chemical says it has no liability because it bought Union Carbide more than a decade after the cases had been settled.
(AKS-03/12)
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Rohtak sisters to be honoured on Republic Day
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 Updated on : 02-12-2014 04:07 PM
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Two
braveheart sisters in Rohtak, who took on three alleged molesters on
board a moving Haryana roadways bus, will be honoured for their bravery
on Republic Day even as the incident triggered indignation and led the
state government to suspend driver and conductor of the bus.
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Taking
serious note of the incident, Haryana government asked the state
Director General of Police (DGP) and state transport department to take
steps for ensuring security of passengers especially women travelling in
roadways buses.
Praising the indomitable courage and bravery of the girls who opposed
the misdemeanour of the three youth who tried to "molest" them in the
moving bus, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the girls will be
given cash awards on the occasion of Republic Day.
The two college-going sisters had confronted three alleged molesters
inside a moving bus, with one of the girls even hitting the youths with
her belt, even as passengers remained mute spectators.
The entire incident, recorded by a passenger on mobile phone, went viral
both on television and social media. It showed the two girls using
hands and belt to thrash the trio, who appeared to be taken by surprise.
All the three youths -- Kuldeep, Mohit and Deepak - were later arrested
and remanded to custody till December six. Rohtak Superintendent of
Police Shanshank Anand said that an appeal had been made to eyewitnesses
or passengers sitting in the bus to help police to take the case to its
logical end.
He said police would make serious efforts to take this case to the fast
track court for speedy conviction of the accused. Asked about the threat
by residents of the village of the accused to block roads tomorrow, the
SP said action would be taken against those violating the law. The
parents of the two girls had lodged an FIR with Haryana Police against
the three youths informing that the molesters got down at the Kansla
village in Rohtak.
The victims in their complaint alleged that they were "teased" by some
youths in a Haryana Roadways bus when they were going to their college
on Friday.
When the victims objected, one of the accused started beating them up.
Amid public outrage over the incident, the Director General of Haryana
Transport department has ordered suspension of bus driver Balwan Singh
and conductor Labh Singh with immediate effect.
The father of
the two sisters has, meanwhile, alleged that there was pressure from the
panchayat that the girls should withdraw the complaint. On their part,
the residents of Kansla village in Rohtak district from where the
accused hailed have served an ultimatum on the district administration
to release the three boys within 24 hours.
The residents have alleged that a false FIR has been registered against
the three which should be quashed. The residents told reporters that the
three boys have been "falsely implicated".
They claimed that it was not a case of alleged molestation but a dispute
was over seats. The seats had been allotted to the three boys, they
claimed. Reacting to the incident, Union Minister Uma Bharti said, "All
the girls should do what these sisters did. They did well. But it is sad
that none of the other passengers came to their help.
Society has to change its mindset and people should stop being mere
onlookers when such incidents take place". "What the girls wear, does
not matter. People should come together and ensure that women are
respected and their dignity is maintained," she said.
National Commission for Women chairperson Lalitha Kumarmangalam too
praised the girls. "I would like to congratulate the girls and ask the
authorities to take appropriate action. Few girls have the guts to take
on the molesters. The government should take action. I would appeal to
every Indian to come forward," she said.
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the incident highlighted that
Indian women are exposed to all kinds of risks in public spaces. "It is
very unfortunate (incident) and very brave of these two girls.... I
suppose the Centre and the state will all have to work together in a
focused manner, otherwise public spaces are not going to be safe," she
said.
The Commerce Minister said that the issue of safety of women will be
taken up with the Home Ministry. Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said it
would be not be fair to target the BJP government in Haryana over the
issue and it is new and "it will take some time to repair the damage
done during the Congress rule".
(JM-01.12)
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India improves rating on global corruption index
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 Updated on : 03-12-2014 04:53 PM
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India has showed some improvement in addressing corruption this year,
ranking 85th among 175 countries as against 94th last year, graft
watchdog Transparency International India (TII) said on Wednesday.
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Denmark retained its position as the least corrupt country in 2014
with a score of 92 while North Korea and Somalia shared the last place,
scoring just 8, it said.
In India's neighbourhood, China moved
to 100th place, down from 80th last year, while Pakistan and Nepal were
at 126th position.
Bangladesh was 145th and Bhutan 30th in the ranking. Sri Lanka was ranked 85th with India.
Afghanistan was at a bleak 172.
According
to the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) report by TII, "the CPI score
for India increased by 2 points in 2014 from its 2013 score, helping
India's rank move up to 85 in 2014 from 94 in 2013".
India's score stood at 38 as compared to 36 last year.
The
improvement in CPI for India was driven primarily by two data sources
-- from the World Economic Forum and World Justice Project's (WJP)
index.
"A score increase on WEF suggested businesses in India
were viewing the environment favourably with regards to their perception
of corruption and bribery in the country".
The WJP score also
went up reflecting the perceptions of public sector corruption coming
down slightly in India, the report said.
The report noted that
in terms of the new government, the CPI possibly captured the
anti-corruption mandate on which the new government was elected and the
possibility of some new reforms in this area.
"However, the data
used for CPI mostly was collected prior to the change of government and
therefore this will not reflect directly into any of the CPI sources,"
it said.
To calculate India's position this year, 9 out of 12
independent data sources specialising in governance and business climate
analysis were also used.
These included Bertelsmann Foundation, World Bank and World Economic Forum.
They helped in measuring perceptions of corruption in public sector and cross country comparability.
In
his reaction, Chairman of TII S K Agarwal, said the "new Government has
got fully majority on agenda of good governance and now it's high time
to act and pass all pending anti corruption bills including the right of
citizens for time bound delivery of goods and services and Redressal of
their Grievances Bill".
(AKS-03/12)
188 people sentenced to death in Egypt
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 Updated on : 03-12-2014 10:48 AM
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An Egyptian court has sentenced 188 people to death for a violent attack
on a police station in the restive town Giza after the ouster of
president Mohamed Morsi last year and the matter will now go before the
country's top religious authority.
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The ruling which came on Tuesday found the defendants guilty of
attacking the Kerdasa police station on August 14, 2013, the same day
when Egyptian security forces dispersed two Brotherhood protest sit-in
camps in Cairo and Giza, killing hundreds of people.
They were also found guilty of the attempted murder of 10 other police
personnel, sabotaging the police station, torching a number of police
vehicles and possessing heavy firearms.
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WHO: More than 17,000 people infected with Ebola
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 Updated on : 03-12-2014 10:24 AM
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The World Health Organization says the number of people infected with
Ebola has passed 17,000, as Sierra Leone announced that its 10th doctor
has been sickened.
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Numbers released on Tuesday by WHO include about 200 new cases since data was published on Monday.
More than 6,000 people have died.
The vast majority of the infected are in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra
Leone. Also On Tuesday, Sierra Leonean Health Ministry spokesman
Jonathan Abass Kamara said that Dr. Thomas Rogers has tested positive
for the disease and was admitted a day earlier to the British-built
treatment center in Kerry Town, near the capital.
Rogers had been working at Connaught Hospital in Freetown. He is being
cared for at a special clinic reserved for infected health care workers
that is staffed by British army medics.
(AKS-03/12)
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Rupee down 5 paise against dollar in early trade
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 Updated on : 03-12-2014 10:28 AM
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The rupee declined by 5 paise to 61.93 against the US dollar in early
trade on Wednesday at the Interbank Foreign Exchange on fresh demand for
the American currency from banks and importers.
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Forex dealers said apart from the gain in the dollar against other
currencies in the global markets on impressive US data, fresh demand for
the American unit from importers weighed on the rupee but a higher
opening of the domestic equity markets, capped the fall.
(AKS-03/12)
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Hughes given tearful final farewell; PM Modi pays tribute
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 Updated on : 03-12-2014 02:15 PM
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Cricket world stood united in grief as Australian batsman Phillip Hughes
was laid to rest in his hometown in Macksville on Wednesday amid an
outpouring of emotional tributes by mourners including a distraught
national skipper Michael Clarke.
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Hughes, who would have turned 26 last Sunday, was fatally hit by a
bouncer at the back of his head during a domestic game last week.
He battled for life for two days before passing away to leave the sporting world in stunned sadness.
In a funeral attended by thousands and televised live, friends, family and teammates paid their tributes to the young batsman.
The Indian team, which is here for a Test and limited-overs series, was
represented by captain Virat Kohli, batsman Rohit Sharma and Team
Director Ravi Shastri during an emotional goodbye to the player.
Clarke, Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland besides members of the
Hughes family, read out heart-rending tributes to the youngster before
Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" filled the air.
"I don't know about you, but I keep looking for him. I know it is crazy
but I expect any minute to take a call from him or to see his face pop
around the corner. Is this what we call the spirit? If so, then his
spirit is still with me. And I hope it never leaves," a choked Clarke
said.
PM MODI PAYS TRIBUTE TO HUGHES
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also joined the world in bidding farewell to Hughes, sending out a tweet to pay his last respects.
"Heart-rending funeral in Australia. Phil Hughes, we will miss you. Your
game & exuberance won you fans all over! RIP," Modi tweeted.
TENDULKAR PAYS TRIBUTE TO HUGHES
Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar joined the cricket world to mourn the tragic death of Phillip Hughes.
In a tribute to Hughes, who would have turned 26 last Sunday, Tendulkar
wrote in his twitter page: "Will miss you Phil. Your enthusiasm to learn
and drive for perfection was most impressive. #FarewellHughes."
The 41-year-old Iconic batsman also posted a photograph of him along
with Hughes, who was part of the IPL franchise Mumbai Indians in 2013.
Former India skipper Anil Kumble also paid his tribute.
"Phil Hughes RIP...#63notout cricket will miss you," wrote the spin legend in the social networking site.
Hughes' coffin was led out after the tribute ceremony for a procession
around the streets of Macksville to allow the locals to pay their last
respects.
The procession moved through the streets with players and other mourners
walking behind. The Australian players later formed a guard of honour
and the hearse and the funeral procession moved past them en route to
the burial.
The coffin was carried from the prayer hall of the Macksville High
School by pallbearers -- Phillip's father Greg and brother Jason, along
with Clarke, Mitchell Lonergan, Matthew Day, Aaron Finch and Tom Cooper,
who was the departed player's housemate in Adelaide and was batting
with him when he was struck by the fatal delivery.
(AKS-03/12)
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World Cup probables to be picked tomorrow
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 Updated on : 03-12-2014 07:05 PM
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The preliminary list of 30 Indian probables for the upcoming World Cup
in Australia and New Zealand is to be finalised in Mumbai on Thursday by
the national selectors, who may include a few proven but currently
out-of-form cricketers.
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India's Ravi in ICC panel of umpires for World Cup
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 Updated on : 03-12-2014 06:52 PM
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Indian umpire S Ravi was on Wednesday named in a 25-member list of match
officials for next year's ICC ODI World Cup in Australia and New
Zealand.
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Updated on : 25-11-2014 11:59 PM
Updated on : 06-11-2014 03:22 PM
Updated on : 29-10-2014 06:41 AM
Updated on : 22-10-2014 01:48 PM
 Govt launches National Mental Health Policy
The
first ever National Mental Health Policy was launched in an attempt to
provide universal psychiatry care to the population, 20 percent of which
are likely to suffer some f...
Updated on : 12-10-2014 07:05 PM
Updated on : 10-10-2014 01:24 PM
==============Hi to All, Good Morning
today is 11 Dec 2014
and on the DD news
Satyarthi, Malala receive Nobel Peace Prize
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 Updated on : 10-12-2014 09:10 PM
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India's
Kailash Satyarthi received the Nobel Peace Prize for 2014 on Wednesday,
sharing it with Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai, the youngest ever Nobel
laureate, for their work on promoting child rights in the troubled
sub-continent, where millions are deprived of their childhood and
education.
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"Satyarthi and Yousafzai are precisely the people whom Alfred Nobel in
his will calls 'champions of peace'," Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel
Committee Thorbjorn Jagland said in his speech before awarding them the
prize. "A young girl and a somewhat older man, one from Pakistan and one
from India, one Muslim, the other Hindu; both symbols of what the world
needs: more unity. Fraternity between the nations!," he added.
Satyarthi, 60, who gave up his job as an electrical engineer to run an
NGO for rescuing children from forced labour and trafficking, and
17-year-old Malala, who survived a near-fatal Taliban attack two years
ago with determination advocating education for girls, were named by the
Nobel Peace Prize Committee for the prestigious award on October 10.
They received the Nobel medal which is 18 carat green gold plated with
24 carat gold and weighs around 175 grams. They will share USD 1.1
million prize money. Noting that violence and repression cannot be
justified in any religion, Jagland said Islam, Christianity, Judaism,
Hinduism and Buddhism protect life and cannot be used to take lives.
"The two whom we honour here today stand very firm on this point. They
live according to a principle Mahatma Gandhi gave expression to. He
said: 'There are many purposes I would have died for. There are no
purposes I would have killed for'," Jagland said, invoking Mahatma
Gandhi. Satyarthi's NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save Childhood Movement)
prides itself on liberating over 80,000 children from bonded labour in
factories and workshops across India.
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) there are about 168 million child labourers globally.
There are roughly 60 million child labourers in India alone. Malala, who
was nominated in the peace prize category last year also, had displayed
tremendous courage even after the Taliban attack when she resolutely
expressed her determination to carry on with her campaign for child
rights and girls education especially in a country like Pakistan.
Putin-Modi Summit tomorrow; Nuclear energy, oil in focus
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 Updated on : 10-12-2014 04:07 PM
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Expansion of ties in a range of crucial sectors like nuclear energy,
hydrocarbons and defence will be in focus when Russian President
Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi deliberate at the annual
summit on Thursday with an aim to further strengthen the already close
strategic partnership.
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In his talks with Modi, both in restricted and delegation level formats,
Putin is likely to seek deeper economic engagement with the
"time-tested" ally to negate affect of sanctions against Russia by the
US and its Western allies over the Ukraine issue.
Both sides
are looking at inking 15-20 pacts following the summit which has been
taking place since 2000 alternately in Moscow and New Delhi.
Ahead of his visit, Putin termed ties with India as "privileged
strategic partnership" and said construction of new nuclear plants
besides military and technical cooperation was high on the agenda for
talks.
He said Russia was keen to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to India and involve ONGC in oil and gas hunt in the Arctic.
Energy-starved India, which is the third largest oil importer after the
US and China has been pushing for greater involvement in major gas and
oil exploration projects in Russia and both the leaders are set to
discuss the issue.
Russia is one of the top oil producers globally and has huge reserves of natural gas.
In the nuclear energy sector, Russia may offer to set up a total of
20-24 nuclear energy production units in India against previously agreed
14-16 plants.
Both sides are also likely to come out with a roadmap for cooperation in the overall energy sector.
Russian Ambassador Alexander Kadakin said the two countries will start
negotiations for setting up of units five and six at the Kudankulam
nuclear power complex soon and may sign a technical pact for units 3 and
4 during Putin's stay here.
Russia was awaiting India's
decision to allot a site for construction of a new Russian-designed
nuclear power plant and the issue may figure in the talks.
Putin will be accompanied by around 15 business tycoons from Russia and
both Modi and the Russian President are expected to jointly interact
with CEOs of major companies from both the countries as enhancing trade
ties will be a major item on the agenda of the summit.
The
volume of bilateral trade was USD 10 billion in 2013 and both sides feel
there was "huge opportunity" to improve it significantly.
India has been working to have a trade pact with "Eurasian space" for
improved trade and commerce which will also improve trade with Russia.
India's exports, particularly food items, to Russia have gone up since
sanctions were imposed against that country by Western nations for its
interventions in the crisis in Ukraine.
India has been maintaining that it cannot be party to any economic sanctions against Russia.
Both the leaders are likely to discuss improving supply of rough
diamonds by Russia to India. Russia is the world's top producer of rough
diamonds and India is one of its largest importers. Putin will also
inaugurate World Diamond Conference.
In the defence sector, Putin may push for larger procurement of military hardware from Russia by India.
Russia has been a major defence supplier to India and its share has
been 60-70 per cent in the country's import of military hardware.
Sources said specific discussions are likely to take place on various
key projects including the envisaged gas pipeline linking Russia with
India and the ambitious Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA)
programme.
Listing the joint strategic projects, Putin said
these included construction of new units for Indian nuclear power
plants, promotion of Russian Sukhoi superjet-100 and MS-21 passenger
aircraft to Indian market besides manufacturing of helicopters and
creating a "smart city" on the basis of Russian technology.
It will be the first annual summit meeting between Putin and Modi.
The two leaders have met twice during the year.
They met on the sidelines of the BRIC summit in Brazil in July and during the G-20 summit in Australia last month.
(MK-10/12)
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PM Modi has highest retweets, Amitabh largest following in India
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 Updated on : 10-12-2014 05:08 PM
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Prime
Minister Narendra Modi leads the list of retweets with his election
winning post on Twitter being shared by over 70,515 people on the
microblogging site.
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"India has won! Bharat ki vijay! Achhe din aane wale hai" remains the most retweeted tweet on Twitter till date from India.
Following in the list at 51,981 retweets is actor Salman Khan's tweet of his film Kick's trailer.
"There has never been a better time to be on Twitter in India, with the
experience of so many events - big and small - made even more compelling
by Twitter," Twitter Market Director (South and Southeast Asia) Rishi
Jaitly said.
The 'Year On Twitter' data shows Indians are discovering content around
and connecting with their heroes, politics and live sporting events,
especially cricket, he added. "We also expect to see a surge in
conversations around digital diplomacy and digital governance to connect
politicians, ministries and citizens through live public
conversations," he said.
Other tweets in the top 10 include Rajinikanth's (@superstarrajini)
maiden tweet, debut of ISRO's Mars Orbiter (@MarsOrbiter) and Sachin
Tendulkar's (@sachin_rt) tribute to Aussie cricketer Phil Hughes who
succumbed to an injury while playing.
Globally, celebrity Ellen DeGeneres' post of her selfie along with a
host of Hollywood stars at the Oscars was the most re-tweeted (by
3,367,870 accounts).
Superstar Amitabh Bachchan is the most followed celebrity on Twitter
with over 1.18 crore followers, followed by Shah Rukh Khan (1.02 crore),
Aamir Khan (9.86 crore), Salman Khan (9.42 crore) and Narendra Modi
(8.42 crore).
Modi saw the highest growth in followers at 54.45 per cent with the addition of over 4.62 crore followers in 2014.
Top hashtags of the year included #WorldCup2014, #MH370, #MufflerMan and #KashmirFloods.
The new joinees on Twitter this year include President of India
(@RashtrapatiBhvn), ISRO's Mars Orbiter (@MarsOrbiter), Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare (@MoHFW_INDIA), Ministry of Railways
(@RailMinIndia) and Uday Kotak (@udaykotak), among others.
Notably, Rajinikanth joined Twitter on May 4 and within 24 hours over
two lakh of his fans flocked to follow him on the site. The number more
than doubled within a week and in less than six months, it had breached
the one million-mark.
@BJ-12.10
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1993 Mumbai blasts case: SC seeks reply of Maharashtra STF, CBI
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 Updated on : 10-12-2014 01:14 PM
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The Supreme Court Wednesday further stayed the execution of Yakub Abdul
Razak Memon, lone death row convict in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts
case, and sought responses from Maharashtra Special Task Force and CBI
on his plea seeking review of death penalty awarded to him.
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In an open court hearing, a three-judge bench, headed by Justice A R
Dave, said the execution of Memon shall remain stayed during the
pendency of his review petition against the imposition of death penalty
and fixed the matter for further hearing on January 28, 2015.
"We are issuing notice," the bench, also comprising justices J Chelameswar and Kurian Joseph, said.
The counsel appearing for Memon said that neither the trial court nor
the apex court gave special reasons for sending him to gallows.
"My entire conviction is based on retracted confessions of several
co-accused," his lawyer said, adding, "the judgement under review does
not talk about the fact and evidence that I took part in any terrorist
activities".
The lawyer also alleged that Memon was convicted
and then sentenced to death by the special TADA court even before the
entire judgement was delivered, hence, his conviction was not valid.
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Court convicts 3 Ananda Margis, lawyer for former Railway Minister L N Mishra's murder
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 Updated on : 08-12-2014 11:05 PM
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Nearly 40 years after the then Railway Minister Lalit Narayan Mishra was
killed in a blast in Bihar's Samastipur station, a Delhi court on
Monday convicted three Ananda Margas and an advocate for conspiring and
murdering him and two others.
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Those held guilty of murder in the run up to the emergency in 1975
are Santoshananda Avadhuta, 75, Sudevananda Avadhuta, 79, and Gopalji,
73, (Ananda Margas) and 66-year-old advocate Ranjan Dwivedi who was on
bail and has been practicing in different courts in the national
capital.
BJP-Sena rule in Maharashtra after 15 years; 20 ministers inducted
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 Updated on : 07-12-2014 01:16 AM
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BJP
and Shiv Sena are ruling Maharashtra once again after 15 years with the
induction of ten ministers from Shiv Sena in the 35-day old Devendra
Fadnavis-led govt in Maharashtra.
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Sena's joining the BJP government now is unique, because this is the
first time a party sitting in the opposition -- albeit for a short
duration -- is switching the sides.
Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao administered the oath of office to 20 ministers, including 10 from BJP.
Ten cabinet ministers, five each from BJP and Sena, were sworn in.
Cabinet
ministers who took the oath were Girish Bapat (BJP), Girish Mahajan
(BJP), Diwakar Raote (Shiv Sena), Subhash Desai (SS), Ramdas Kadam (SS),
Eknath Shinde (SS), Chandrashekhar Bawankule (BJP), Babanrao Lonikar
(BJP), Dr Deepak Sawant (SS) and Rajkumar Badole (BJP). Ministers of
state sworn in were Ram Shinde (BJP), Vijay Deshmukh (BJP), Sanjay
Rathod (Shiv Sena), Dada Bhuse (SS), Vijay Shivtare (SS), Deepak
Kesarkar (SS), Raje Amrish Atram (BJP), Ravindra Waikar (SS), Dr Ranjit
Patil (BJP) and Pravin Pote (BJP).
Two more Sena ministers are expected to take oath during the next
cabinet expansion, possibly after the winter session of the state
legislature.
When Fadnavis was sworn in as the Chief Minister on October 31, nine other ministers, all from BJP, took oath.
No Sena minister was sworn in then, as talks between the two parties,
which had contested the Assembly polls separately, were inconclusive.
NCP had offered "unsolicited" outside support to the BJP government, which won a trust vote earlier this month.
Sena president Uddhav Thackeray and his family members were present
today to witness his partymen, who were wearing saffron phetas
(turbans), being sworn in.
Committed to assist in global efforts to combat Ebola: India
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 Updated on : 10-12-2014 10:07 AM
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As part of its commitment to assist in global efforts to combat the
Ebola virus, India has signed an agreement with a UN agency under which
USD 10 million pledged by it will be transferred to a global trust fund
set up to address the threat posed by the deadly virus.
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The Standard Administrative Arrangement was signed on Tuesday between
Indian Ambassador to the UN Asoke Kumar Mukerji and Executive
Coordinator at the Ebola Response Multi Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) office
of UN Development Programme Yannick Glemarec.
"India stands
ready and committed to contribute to the ongoing efforts of the
international community to address the threat posed by the Ebola virus,"
a statement issued by the Indian mission to the UN said.
The UN
system response to the Ebola outbreak was launched by Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon in September 2014 to unite efforts of all concerned UN
entities and act as a platform for global control of the outbreak.
India
had announced a contribution of USD 10 million to the fund and had
pledged assistance of an additional USD two million for purchase of
protective gear to tackle Ebola virus attack prior to the visit of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi to the UN in September.
The signing of the arrangement paved the way for transfer of the Indian contribution to the Ebola fund.
India had also provided immediate financial assistance to three of the
affected countries Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea for purchase of
medical supplies and subsequently provided half a million dollars to the
World Health Organisation (WHO) to assist in the efforts of the
international community to deal with this challenge.
(MK-10/12)
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Pakistan eighth most dangerous country in the world
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 Updated on : 10-12-2014 04:45 AM
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Pakistan is placed eighth in the list of the most dangerous countries in
the world which is led by Iraq, according to a US-based intelligence
think tank.
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Afghanistan, the only other South Asian country in the list, is
placed fourth in the Country Threat Index (CTI) compiled on Tuesday by
IntelCenter, a washington-based company working for intelligence
agencies.
The rankings were prepared after examining the volume of terrorist and
rebel alerts, messaging traffic, videos, photos, incidents and the
number of killed and injured in a country over the past 30 days.
The other countries in the top 10 are Nigeria (second), Somalia (third)
followed by Yemen (five), Syria (six), Libya (seven), Egypt (nine) and
Kenya (10).
There are a total of 45 countries with a CTI greater than zero. The
average CTI for these countries is 74 and the global CTI is 3,313.
(AKS-10/12)
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Obama thanks Afghans for approving pact
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 Updated on : 10-12-2014 06:39 AM
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US President Barack Obama has thanked the leaders of Afghanistan for
ratifying a bilateral security agreement allowing US troops to stay in
the country after this year.
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The White House said that Obama on Tuesday spoke via video
conference with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive
Officer Abdullah Abdullah.
They spoke shortly after the release of a Senate report on harsh
interrogation techniques the US used during the George W Bush
administration.
The report includes details of interrogations at a facility referred to
as COBALT, which is understood as the CIA's "Salt Pit" facility in
Afghanistan.
The White House readout of the video conference did not mention the Senate report.
Instead, it said the leaders focused on the impending end of the US
combat mission in Iraq and the mission to train and advise Afghan
forces.
(MM – 10/12)
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26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed's Twitter account suspended
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 Updated on : 08-12-2014 08:15 PM
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The Twitter account of JuD chief and Mumbai terror attacks mastermind
Hafiz Saeed was on Monday suspended, days after he asked Pakistanis to
help Kashmiris in getting "freedom" from India.
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The micro-bogging site apparently on its own took the action against the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief.
The site can suspend user accounts for violation of rules which include
impersonation, copyright infringement, violence and threats.
Saeed's Twitter account @HafizSaeedJUD now reads "account suspended".
Some media reports said Saeed had created two new accounts to become
active on Twitter. His spokesman or anyone from JuD was not immediately
available for comment.
With logistical support from the Pakistan government, Saeed on Friday
told his supporters that Pakistanis should come forward and help the
Kashmiris in getting "freedom" from India.
"If India can send troops to Afghanistan to help the US, then Mujahideen
have every right to go to Kashmir and help their brethren. Kashmiris
are clamouring for help and it is our duty to respond to their call," he
had said addressing a JuD congregation at historical Minar-e-Pakistan
ground in Lahore.
The United Nations declared JuD a terrorist organisation and also
individually designated Saeed as a terrorist in December 2008.
Saeed, who also has a US bounty of 10 million dollars on him, roams
freely in Pakistan and often addresses public rallies in which he
routinely makes inflammatory statements against India.
Pakistan has said that there is no case against Saeed and that he is free to move in the country as a Pakistani national.
India has repeatedly demanded Pakistan to hand over Saeed for
questioning over his role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks that claimed 166
lives.
JuD was banned in 2002 by Pakistan but later a court lifted the ban due
to lack of evidence on the group's involvement in militancy.
The group is also banned by the US, the EU, India and Russia as a terror
organisation. In June 2014, the US declared JuD a subsidiary of terror
group Lashkar-e-Taiba.
(AKS-08/12)
Storm leaves Philippines after killing 27
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 Updated on : 09-12-2014 06:55 PM
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A
giant storm left the Philippines on Tuesday after killing at least 27
people and devastating remote coastal towns, but the government won
praise for unprecedented preparations that were credited for saving
lives.
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Hagupit hit the far eastern island of Samar on Saturday with winds of
210 kilometres an hour, making it the most powerful typhoon in the
Philippines this year and threatening widespread destruction.
Most of the 27 people reported by the Red Cross to have been killed were
on Samar, one of the nation's poorest islands where thousands of homes
in fishing communities facing the Pacific Ocean were torn apart.
In San Julian, a tiny farming and fishing town on Samar, mother-of-four
Rosario Organo sat with a daughter in front of their ruined bamboo and
palm thatch home today.
"My only wish is that my family could get a good night's sleep," Organo,
41, said as neighbours sifted through the debris of their destroyed
houses to start rebuilding, using salvaged material.
In San Julian and neighbouring coastal towns, Hagupit's winds had
snapped coconut trees and power lines, cutting off roads and making the
delivery of supplies difficult.
The military flew emergency flights with food, water and other
essentials from Cebu to the worst-affected areas on Samar today.
Interior Minister Manuel Roxas said 200,000 people were believed to be
in need of help on eastern Samar, but this could rise as more
comprehensive assessments were carried out in isolated communities.
"It breaks my heart to hear their stories," Roxas said in an interview
with local television network ABS CBN. "All we can do is give them
physical support, moral support, give them food and hope we can give
back their spirits so they can rise again."
@BJ-09.12
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Saudi extends detention of women driving activists: Amnesty
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 Updated on : 10-12-2014 01:37 AM
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Saudi authorities extend the detention of two women's rights activists,
one of whom tried to drive into the kingdom in defiance of a ban,
Amnesty International said on Tuesday.
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Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world which does not allow women to drive.
“Loujain Hathloul and Maysaa Alamoudi have been detained for 25 further days" the London-based watchdog said in a statement.
"Jailing a woman for simply driving a car is preposterous," said
Boumedouha, Amnesty's deputy director for the Middle East and North
Africa.
The Interior Ministry has still not commented on the case of the two women.
Border officers stopped Hathloul when she tried to drive from
neighbouring United Arab Emirates into Saudi Arabia on November 30.
Alamoudi, a UAE-based Saudi journalist, later arrived to support
Hathloul. Both were arrested and are being held in Saudi Arabia's
Eastern Province.
Women drivers in the kingdom have previously been arrested and cars have
been confiscated but the detention of Hathloul is already among the
longest term given to any female driver in the kingdom recently,
activists said.
(MM – 10/12)
Structural reforms necessary to achieve 7-8% growth: Jayant
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 Updated on : 10-12-2014 02:00 PM
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Pitching for structural reforms, Minister of State for Finance Jayant
Sinha on Wednesday said they were necessary for achieving a sustainable
growth of 7-8 per cent and making India a USD 5 trillion economy in next
12 years.
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"If we take our USD 2 trillion economy and get it on the sustainable 7-8
per cent growth rate then we have a situation when the economy doubles
in 10 or 12 years to USD 4 trillion economy.
If rupee strengthens we may end up getting closer to USD 5
trillion economy," he said while addressing the Delhi Economics Conclave
here.
Sinha also made a strong pitch for "deep structural reforms" to achieve a
sustainable and non-inflationary growth of 7-8 per cent over longer
period of time.
Jaitley to meet state FMs tomorrow on GST
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 Updated on : 10-12-2014 12:50 PM
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Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will on Thursday meet his state
counterparts to iron out the "challenges" in rolling out the Goods and
Services Tax (GST).
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The meeting would "discuss some of the challenges that the states see
at this point of time", Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha told
reporters on the sidelines of Delhi Economics Conclave on Wednesday.
"On GST we are working on variety of discussions with the
states. The legislative aspects of the GST are complicated, they have to
be approved by the states. CST compensation is one of the item which is
under discussion," he said.
The Centre is working towards rolling out the GST from April
1, 2016, and is in discussion with states to insulate their revenues
from the impact of the GST.
The GST will subsume indirect taxes like excise duty and
service tax at the central level and VAT and local levies on the states
front.
Sinha said once the issues are resolved the Centre can come up with the legislative calender.
The GST Constitutional Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the Lok
Sabha in 2011, had lapsed and the NDA government will be required to
come up with a fresh bill.
States have been demanding that petroleum, alcohol and tobacco be kept out of the purview of the GST.
The GST roll out has missed several deadlines because of lack of
consensus among states over certain crucial issues on the proposed new
tax regime.
On easing restrictions on gold imports, Sinha said the
intention of the government was to enable the jewellery sector function
efficiently.
"The current account deficit and foreign exchange reserves are
in much more comfortable position now. The rupee is stable," Sinha
added.
The CAD, which is the difference between inflow and outflow of
foreign exchange, moderated to 1.9 per cent of GDP (USD 17.9 billion)
in April-September period of current fiscal.
It was 3.1 per cent (USD 26.9 billion) in the corresponding period last year.
The government had last month scrapped the 80:20 scheme for gold imports
under which at least 20 per cent of the imported gold had to be
mandatorily exported before bringing in new lots.
Gold imports jumped 280 per cent to USD 4.17 billion in October, as per the latest trade data.
The in-bound shipments touched 95 tonnes in September this year as against 12 tonnes a year ago.
(MK-10/12)
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Govt may soon rationalise coal linkages of 40 power projects
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 Updated on : 10-12-2014 12:44 PM
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The government could soon finalise the proposal for coal linkage
rationalisation and swapping arrangements of about 40 thermal power
projects, a move that is expected to save up to Rs 6,000 crore in
logistics cost.
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The proposal includes swapping agreements for power projects of
companies including Adani Power, Indiabulls Power and NTPC, among
others.
The Inter Ministerial Task Force (IMTF), which was
formed to undertake a comprehensive review of existing coal sources and
consider feasibility for rationalisation of linkages, has approved coal
linkage rationalisation for 18-20 thermal power plants, according to
sources.
IMTF comprises officials from the Ministries of Power, Coal, Railways and the Central Electricity Authority.
Sources said, consultancy firm KPMG has listed out 20 proposals for the coal swapping arrangements.
KPMG, in its report to the Ministry of Power, has stated that 20 proposals for the swapping arrangements are feasible.
The swapping arrangement between NTPC for its thermal power plant in
Chhattisgarh with Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited (GSECL)
are estimated to save about Rs 720 crore per year on the logistics
front.
The report said, the western Maharashtra's plants which
are closer to the ports can swap domestic linkages with imports of
hinterland plants in eastern Maharashtra.
It estimated possible
logistic saving of Rs 303 crore annually. KPMG also gave a list of
possible swaps including Indiabulls plant and Sterlite Energy's project
in the region.
Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (RRVUNL), which is nearly
equidistant from both port and the Northern Coalfields Ltd (NCL) mines,
can swap domestic linkages with imports of hinterland plants of NTPC.
Similarly,
thermal power projects in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab can benefit
from the swapping pacts saving close to Rs 456 crore.
KPMG also suggested that the generating stations of Tamil Nadu
Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) are closer to the
coast and even domestic coal is taken by the sea route to these
stations.
These plants can increase the coal import quantities
through port arrangements. It added, NTPC can switch its coal imports
with domestic linkages providing coal to TANGECO.
Sources said, approximately between Rs 4,500 crore to Rs 6,000 crore
logistics cost can be saved through these proposals of coal linkage
rationalization and swapping arrangements.
(MK-10/12)
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Hike in excise duty aimed to meet budget deficit: Pradhan
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 Updated on : 05-12-2014 09:42 AM
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A day after the government hiked excise duty on petrol and diesel for
the second time in three weeks, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on
Wednesday said the move was meant to shore up revenue to meet budget
deficit without burdening the consumer.
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Ranji: J&K beat Mumbai to script history
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 Updated on : 10-12-2014 07:31 PM
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Jammu
and Kashmir upset domestic cricket giants Mumbai with a historic
four-wicket win by chasing down 237 runs on the last day of the match
here at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.
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It was J&K's first win over the 40-time champions in the tournament's 79-year history.
Opener Shubham Khajuria led the innings again, with a composed 78, and
the win was secured by an unbeaten 41 from Hardeep Singh. Captain Parvez
Rasool also contributed with a valuable 32.
J&K resumed on 58 for one and lost Bandeep Singh in the fourth over of the day.
But the visitors were steadied by Rasool and Hardeep and sealed the victory despite losing four more wickets.
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Another hat-trick in his name, Messi in Ronaldo’s league
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 Updated on : 08-12-2014 02:12 PM
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Barcelona
hit home a 5-1 victory over local rivals Espanyol, of the La Liga
leaders Real Madrid , all thanks to another hat- trick by Lionel Messi,
his third in the last 4 games.
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With a game- changing header by Gerard Pique and a smooth finish by
Pedro, Barcelona secured Atletico Madrid the second place with 34
points.
The Saturday’s feat was Messi's 21st Liga treble, taking him to within two of Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 23.
After a 3-0 win over Celta Vigo on Saturday, the RM are still leading the table with 36 points.
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India beat Pakistan to win World Cup for the Blind
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 Updated on : 08-12-2014 05:48 AM
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India defeated defending champions Pakistan to win the 4th Cricket World Cup for the Blind in Cape Town on Sunday.
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In reply to Pakistan's 389, India scored 392 with two balls to spare.
Except for their initial match against Pakistan, India won all games in
the league, in which other participating countries were Sri Lanka,
Australia, Bangladesh and England and hosts South Africa.
Pakistan beat England in the semi-finals, while India ousted Sri Lanka.
South Africa won the inaugural edition of the Blind Cricket World Cup in
1998, but the game has been in decline since then due to a lack of
support from most national cricketing authorities, a fact lamented by
Indian captain Shekar Naik as well.
Naik said the team was elated at having won despite the great odds and
lack of support from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
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Adelaide celebrates life of Hughes, '13th man' of Oz squad
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 Updated on : 09-12-2014 01:52 PM
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In the minds of cricket lovers, Phillip Hughes will remain '63 Not Out
Forever' but on Tuesday the departed cricketer was named as his national
team's "13th Man", with the first cricket Test between India and
Australia starting here on an emotional note.
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As Australia named their playing XI for the match, pacer Josh
Hazlewood was listed as the 12th man and the players wanted to include
Hughes' name as the 13th man in the list.
Ten days back, cricket world was struck by the tragedy when Hughes
passed away after failing to recover being hit by a Sean Abbott bouncer
in a Sheffield Shield game. An entire nation went into mourning.
As the on-field action commenced, it was all about celebrating the life
of the ever-smiling Hughes, with everyone present at the Adelaide Oval,
applauding in unison for exactly 63 seconds.
Once the match started, David Warner, on a personal score of 63 raised
his bat looking towards heaven trying to find his mate. Once Warner
reached his century, he got a long emotional hug from his skipper, who
was at the other end.
Incidentally, Hughes was batting on 63 when he was struck by Abbott's bouncer.
As a mark of respect, both teams wore black arm-bands. The entire
Australian side had '408' inscribed in their white jerseys. The number
is significant as Hughes was the 408th cricketer to play in Tests for
Australia.
"It's really special. His family, I think that would make them very
proud," Mitchell Johnson was quoted as saying by a cricket website.
"I'm very proud to be able to wear that number through this Test. We've
named him as the 13th man as well. It's all very special."
Rival captains Virat Kohli and Michael Clarke also remembered him during the toss.
"What's most important and what I know my little buddy would want is going out and playing cricket," Clarke said at the toss.
RBY@09/12
Dilip Kumar to be discharged on Thursday
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 Updated on : 10-12-2014 02:20 PM
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Bollywood legend Dilip Kumar, who is recuperating after being
hospitalised for chest infection, will be discharged by Thursday,
doctors attending on him said.
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"Dilip Saab is feeling much better now. The bronchopneumonia that he was
initially suffering from has been cured. In all probability, we will be
discharging him by tomorrow," Dr Jalil Parkar, well-known pulmonologist
and Kumar's doctor at Lilavati hospital said.
Kumar, 91, who
was being treated by a panel of doctors including cardiologist Dr Nitin
Gokhale, nephrologist Dr Kirti Upadhyay and neurologist Dr Vinay Chavan,
was admitted to the hospital on Saturday evening after he complained of
cold and breathlessness.
A team of doctors dignosed that he was suffering from a chest infection called bronchopneumonia.
The
veteran actor, who will celebrate his 92nd birthday on Thursday, had
been hospitalised in September last year after he suffered a silent
heart attack.
Kumar, known as the 'King of Tragedy', essayed
iconic roles in classics like 'Devdas', 'Madhumati', 'Mughal-e-Azam' and
'Ganga Jamuna'. Born Muhammad Yusuf Khan on December 11, 1922, in
Peshawar (now in Pakistan), his acting career spanned six decades and
over 60 films.
(MK-10/12)
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Old laptop batteries could power slums in India: study
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 Updated on : 07-12-2014 03:23 PM
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Discarded
laptop batteries still have enough life in them to power slums in India
and other developing countries, a new study has found.
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The
research presented at a conference in San Jose, US, analysed a sample
of discarded batteries and found 70 per cent had enough power to keep an
LED light on for more than four hours a day for a year.
According to researchers at IBM India, many of the estimated 50 million
lithium-ion laptop batteries discarded every year could provide
electricity storage sufficient to light homes in developing countries.
It is possible to combine LED lights with solar panels and rechargeable
batteries, however, using discarded batteries could make the approach
far cheaper, according to MIT Technology Review.
"The most
costly component in these systems is often the battery," said Vikas
Chandan, a research scientist at the lab's Smarter Energy Group, who led
the project.
"In this case, the most expensive part of your storage solution is coming from trash," said Chandan.
The IBM group opened the discarded laptop battery packaging and extracted individual storage units called cells.
They then tested those individually to pick out the good ones, and recombined them to form refurbished battery packs.
After adding charging dongles as well as circuitry to prevent
overheating, they gave them to five users in Bangalore who lived in
slums or operated sidewalk carts. Three months later, the users said the
battery packs had worked well.
(PT-07/12)
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Astronauts' poo can now be converted into fuel in space!
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 Updated on : 26-11-2014 02:08 PM
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Indian-origin
researchers have developed a new method that allows human waste in
space to be converted into fuel that can be used to send future NASA
spacecraft from the Moon back to Earth.
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The
process could also have applications on Earth, according to Pratap
Pullammanappallil, a University of Florida associate professor of
agricultural and biological engineering.
"It could be used on campus or around town, or anywhere, to convert waste into fuel," Pullammanappallil said.
In 2006, NASA began making plans to build an inhabited facility on the Moon's surface between 2019 and 2024.
As part of NASA's Moon-base goal, the agency wanted to reduce the weight of spacecraft retuning to Earth.
Waste generated during spaceflight is stored in containers until it's
loaded into space cargo vehicles that burn as they pass back through
Earth's atmosphere. For future long-term missions, though, it would be
impractical to bring all the stored waste back to Earth.
Dumping it on the Moon's surface is not an option, so the space agency entered into an agreement with UF for ideas.
Pullammanappallil and then-graduate student Abhishek Dhoble accepted the challenge.
"We
were trying to find out how much methane can be produced from uneaten
food, food packaging and human waste," said Pullammanappallil.
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New method can turn sawdust into petrol
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 Updated on : 26-11-2014 12:47 PM
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Your car may soon run on sawdust! Researchers have successfully converted sawdust into building blocks for petrol.
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Scientists
at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven) in Belgium used a new
chemical process to convert the cellulose in sawdust into hydrocarbon
chains. These hydrocarbons can be used as an additive in gasoline, or as
a component in plastics, researchers said.
Cellulose is the
main substance in plant matter and is present in all non-edible plant
parts of wood, straw, grass, cotton and old paper.
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India spent Rs 1 lakh cr on diseases caused by tobacco in 2011
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 Updated on : 07-12-2014 03:40 PM
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Diseases
caused by tobacco consumption caused an economic burden of Rs 1.04 lakh
crore in 2011 to the country, according to a report by Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare.
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In
reply to an RTI query, the Health Ministry said a study carried out by
it has found that in 2011, Rs 1.04 lakh crore was spent on
tobacco-related diseases among people in the age group 35-69.
The ministry said the Health Secretary had written to the Cabinet
Secretary in this regard to set up an inter- ministerial committee to
coordinate between ministries over WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control (FCTC) and issues related to control of tobacco.
The
health ministry said under the National Tobacco Control Program school
programmes to spread awareness among children is an important
district-level activity.
Delhi-based activist Gopal Prasad had
filed an RTI asking about the cost born by the government and public due
to diseases the consumption of alcohol, cigarette and tobacco.
(PT-07/12)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi to all this is 12 Dec 2014===========and on the DD News
Emergency a misadventure, Indira paid a heavy price: Pranab
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 Updated on : 11-12-2014 10:12 PM
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The 1975 Emergency was perhaps an "avoidable event" and Congress and
Indira Gandhi had to pay a heavy price for this "misadventure" as
suspension of fundamental rights and political activity, large scale
arrests and press censorship adversely affected people, says President
Pranab Mukherjee.
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A junior minister under Gandhi in those turbulent times, Mukherjee
however, is also unsparing of the opposition then under the leadership
of the late Jayaprakash Narayan, JP, whose movement appeared to him to
be "directionless".
The President has penned his thoughts about
the tumultuous period in India's post-independence history in his book
"The Dramatic Decade: the Indira Gandhi Years" that has just been
released.
He discloses that Indira Gandhi was not aware of the
Constitutional provisions allowing for declaration of Emergency that
was imposed in 1975 and it was Siddartha Shankar Ray who led her into
the decision.
Ironically, it was Ray, then Chief Minister of
West Bengal, who also took a sharp about-turn on the authorship of the
Emergency before the Shah Commission that went into 'excesses' during
that period and disowned that decision, according to Mukherjee.
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Modi seeks direct Indo-Russian diamond trade
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 Updated on : 11-12-2014 09:00 PM
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Aiming to make the country a diamond hub, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
on Thursday invited Russia's mining companies like Alrosa to do business
directly with India and asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to ease
regulations to boost bilateral trade in this sector.
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In order to expand manufacturing sector and create more jobs, Modi
asked Putin to ease regulations and encourage Russian jewellers to
process rough diamonds in India and allow duty-free re-import of the
polished diamonds.
Russia is the world's largest diamond
producer, while India is the world's biggest centre for cutting and
polishing of rough diamonds.
India exports cut and polished diamonds worth USD 20 billion in a year.
Inaugurating the World Diamond Conference jointly with Putin in New
Delhi, Modi said, "I have made three proposals to President Putin.
First, I would like Alrosa to have direct long-term contracts with more
Indian companies. I am pleased to know that they are moving in that
direction."
Alrosa, the Russian Group of diamond mining firms,
today signed separate contracts with 12 Indian companies to supply
diamonds worth USD 2.1 billion over the next three years.
"While most of rough diamonds from Russia come to India, less than 20
per cent come directly to India. I want major diamond mining companies
to sell directly to Indian diamond industry. It will be good for them
and for India," he said.
Stating that India has the world's largest diamond exchange, Modi called
upon Russian companies to trade directly on the Indian bourse.
"We have decided to create a Special Notified Zone, in which major
mining companies can import rough diamonds on a consignment basis and
re-export unsold ones. This is going to benefit the Indian diamond
industry and create more jobs for our youth," he said.
These measures will not only give a boost Indian diamond industry but
also strengthen India-Russia economic ties, the Prime Minister said.
Assuring Russian delegates of productive business climate in India, Modi
said, "You will find an environment that is welcoming and responsive."
Addressing the conference, Putin said that India should create
"favourable" business climate for diamond trade and sought reforms in
customs procedures. "We would like to work jointly and efficiently (with
India), he added.
Russia is the world's largest diamond
producer. However rough diamond in India comes indirectly through places
like Antwerp and Dubai.
Modi said he had raised the issues concerning the diamond sector with
Putin during his Australia visit and expressed satisfaction that
significant progress has been made in last 15 days.
RBY@11/12
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Ton up Kohli inspires India's fight against Aus
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 Updated on : 11-12-2014 05:53 PM
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Virat Kohli became only the third Indian to score a hundred on his
captaincy debut as the visitors responded resolutely to Australia's
mammoth first innings total by reaching 369 for five on the third day to
leave the first cricket Test evenly poised in Adelaide on Thursday.
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Kohli, standing in for injured regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni,
became the first Indian after Vijay Hazare and Sunil Gavaskar to score a
hundred on his debut as skipper of the team.
The 26-year-old's seventh ton in the five-day format ended at 115 after
he was dismissed by Mitchell Johnson off a short-pitched delivery just
before stumps. The Indian's attempted pull landed in the hands of Ryan
Harris at deep fine leg in the 95th over of the day.
At draw of stumps, Wriddhimaan Saha (1) was holding fort in the company
of Rohit Sharma, who batted fluently to score 33 in 66 balls.
The resolute effort by the Indians, undone to an extent by Kohli's late
dismissal, came after the Australians declared their first innings at an
overnight score of 517/7.
On a bright and sunny day which started early to make up for the four
hours of play lost Wednesday due to rain, the Indians dominated the
proceedings for most part before Kohli's wicket swung the equations
slightly in Australia's favour.
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Ebola fighters named Time's 2014 'Person of the Year'
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 Updated on : 11-12-2014 12:45 PM
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The
countless doctors, nurses and caregivers at the forefront of battling
one of the worst ever outbreaks of the deadly Ebola virus, were
collectively named as Time magazine's 2014 'Person of the Year'.
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The 'Ebola fighters' have been awarded for their "tireless acts of
courage and mercy" and for "risking, persisting, sacrificing and
saving".
Time's editors unveiled the winner of the annual honour selecting the
Ebola fighters from an initial list of 50 world leaders on Wednesday,
business heads and record-breaking artists that was narrowed down to a
shortlist of eight this week.
"Ebola is a war, and a warning. The global health system is nowhere
close to strong enough to keep us safe from infectious disease, and 'us'
means everyone, not just those in faraway places where this is one
threat among many that claim lives every day.
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India likely to improve eco growth to 6.3 pc in 2016: UN
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 Updated on : 11-12-2014 11:43 AM
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India's
economic growth is expected to improve to 6.3 percent in 2016 with the
country leading economic recovery in South Asia, according to a United
Nations report.
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The UN World Economic Situation and Prospects 2015 (WESP) report,
launched in United Nations on Wednesday, also said India is likely to
make progress in implementing economic policy reforms and help provide
support to business and consumer confidence.
It said global economic growth is forecast to continue increasing over
the next two years, despite legacies from the financial crisis
continuing to weigh on growth, and the emergence of new challenges,
including geopolitical conflicts such as in Ukraine, and the Ebola
outbreak in West Africa.
The global economy is expected to grow 3.1 percent in 2015 and 3.3
percent in 2016, compared with an estimated growth of 2.6 percent for
2014, when the pace of expansion has been moderate and uneven.
It said India, which is estimated to record a 5.4 percent economic
growth in 2014, will see GDP growth improving to 5.9 percent next year
and 6.3 percent in 2016.
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Essar signs $10 bn pact to import oil from Russia's Rosneft
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 Updated on : 11-12-2014 07:31 PM
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In one of the biggest oil deals, Essar Group on Thursday signed a USD 10
billion contract to import crude oil from Russia over a 10-year period.
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Essar signed a deal with Russia's top crude oil producer Rosneft to
buy 10 million tons a year of oil, worth about USD 10 billion, for 10
years beginning 2015.
The deal was among a host of agreements being signed during Russian
President Vladimir Putin's visit to India and talks with Prime Minister
Narendra Modi.
Moscow-based OAO Rosneft Chairman Igor Ivanovich Sechin said the
agreement was to ship by sea as much as 10 million tons of oil per year
to Essar Group.
The deal, he said, could be extended beyond 10 years.
"Rosneft and Essar signed key terms of oil and oil products supplies to
Essar refineries in India. Supplies may begin in 2015," Essar Oil, which
operates a 405,000 barrels per day (bpd) refinery at Vadinar in
Gujarat, and Rosneft said in a joint statement in New Delhi.
This is one of the biggest oil import deals any Indian refiner as
signed. Reliance Industries' 15-year deal to purchase 300,000 bpd to
400,000 bpd crude oil from Venezuela is possibly the biggest by an
Indian company.
Essar's 200,000 bpd (10 million tons a year) contract may be the second biggest.
Coal scam: Madhu Koda, seven others charge sheeted by CBI
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 Updated on : 12-12-2014 12:37 PM
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Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, ex-Jharkhand chief secretary
Ashok Kumar Basu and six others have been charge sheeted by the CBI in a
coal block allocation scam case.
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Rajapaksa's govt in Lanka loses two-third majority
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 Updated on : 11-12-2014 10:41 AM
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Ahead
of next month's snap polls, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on
Wednesday suffered another political setback as he lost his government's
two-thirds majority in Parliament after two ministers from parties
representing Indian-origin Tamils defected to the opposition.
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Palani
Digambaram and V Radhakrishnan, both deputy ministers from parties
representing Tamils of Indian-origin, said they were leaving the
government to side with the opposition unity candidate Maithripala
Sirisena.
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Chamling to complete 20 years in office today
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 Updated on : 12-12-2014 12:47 PM
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Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, who is serving his fifth consecutive term, will complete 20 years in office on Friday.
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64-year-old Chamling first assumed office on 12th December in 1994 when
his Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) won the Assembly elections.
He won a fifth consecutive time in the state Assembly elections held in
May 2014. Chamling is currently the longest serving Chief Minister in
the country.
He may break the 23-year-old record of Jyoti Basu, Chief Minister of
West Bengal from 21st June 1977 to 6th November 2000, if he completes
his present tenure in 2019.
During Chamling's tenure, the Sikkim government has started various
flagship programmes for making the tiny hill state a model state in the
country, an official release said.
Sikkim has become the leading state of producing organic fruits and
vegetables with a total 58,168 hectare of land under organic
cultivation.
Sikkim is also the greenest state in the country and according to latest
data, 3,359 sq km of the state, or 47.3 percent is under forest cover
against the national average of 21 percent, it added.
(DD-11.12)
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Obama policy on torture difficult to roll back: White House
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 Updated on : 12-12-2014 11:36 AM
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In the wake of growing public debate over CIA's detention and
interrogation programme, it would be difficult for future American
leadership to roll back the policy on torture enforced by US President
Barack Obama, the White House has said.
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Mauritius opposition sweep to victory in parliamentary polls
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 Updated on : 12-12-2014 12:21 PM
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Mauritius' opposition celebrated victory on Thursday in parliamentary
polls with the outgoing prime minister accepting defeat after voters
rejected his proposals to boost presidential powers.
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Counting still continued as Navinchandra Ramgoolam announced he was
stepping down, and as opposition leader and ex-president Anerood
Jugnauth declared he was the next prime minister in the Indian Ocean
island nation.
"I will become the next prime minister,"
84-year-old ex-premier Jugnauth said in a victory speech broadcast on
national television, standing alongside other smiling leaders of his
centre-right Alliance Lepep coalition.
"As promised, I will do everything so that there is a second economic miracle in the country," Jugnauth told the nation.
He was previously prime minster between 1982-1995 and again between 2000-2003.
Debate over constitutional reform -- notably over a divisive proposal
to strengthen presidential powers -- made Wednesday's polls some of the
most crucial since the country gained independence from Britain in 1968.
Jugnauth said he had won as voters had "felt the danger" of the change.
Ramgoolam, who had wanted to run for the presidency had he won but in a
crushing defeat lost even his own parliamentary seat he had held since
1991, said the "elections were carried out with respect to democracy."
"The
electorate has made its choice, I humbly accept its decision, and I
will now meet the President of the Republic to submit my resignation,"
Ramgoolam said on national radio, speaking in Mauritius' Creole
language.
Veteran politician Ramgoolam leads the centre-left
group that brings together the Labour Party (PTR) and the former
opposition Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) party of ex-prime minister
Paul Berenger.
The PTR-MMM coalition had agreed that if they
won they would try to amend the constitution so the president would be
directly elected.
The role is a largely ceremonial position elected by parliament.
Jugnauth's Lepep fiercely opposed the proposed constitutional reform.
Out
of a total of 62 parliamentary seats, by 1730 GMT official results
declared 29 had been won by Lepep, compared to 10 for Ramgoolam's
coalition.
Mauritian media projected that final results could
see Lepep take some 45 seats, against 15 for its rival PTR-MMM, with two
others going to local parties on the small island of Rodrigues, some
560 kilometres to the east.
Mauritius is one of the richest
countries in Africa, a middle-income country of some 1.3 million people,
with a per capita GDP of just over USD 9,000.
RBY@12/12
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Adelaide Test: Warner hits another ton as Australia...
Opener David Warner extended his purple patch with the bat by cracking
his second century of the match as the
first cricket Test against India
headed for an exciting finish with Australia gaining an overall lead of
363 runs runs in Adelaide on Friday.
Upda
Warner, Aaron in war of words over no-ball dismissal
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 Updated on : 12-12-2014 02:56 PM
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A dash of spice was finally added to what has been an
emotionally-charged first India-Australia cricket Test when David Warner
and Varun Aaron got involved in a war of words after the home batsman
was called back by the umpire following a no-ball dismissal in Adelaide
on Friday.
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Asha Bhosle receives Lifetime Achievement Award at DIFF
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 Updated on : 12-12-2014 01:05 AM
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Noted
Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle was honoured with the Lifetime
Achievement Award at the 11th Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF).
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The 81-year-old 'Piya Tu Ab Toh Aja' hitmaker was presented with the
prestigious award for her decades of dedication to Indian cinema on
Wednesday during the opening ceremony of the festival.
After receiving the award, Bhosle treated the audience to an impromptu performance of her most memorable renditions.
"Receiving DIFF award from Sheikh Mansour Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum," Bhosle tweeted.
The octogenarian singer has recorded more than 12,000 songs and is known
for her versatility as a singer be it folk songs, Indian classical
music, pop songs, ghazals and bhajans.
Acclaimed Egyptian actor Nour El-Sherif was also presented with the DIFF
Lifetime Achievement Award for his work on over 100 films, in a career
spanning nearly five decades.
El-Sherif and Bhosle joined previous winners including Martin Sheen,
Omar Sharif, Faten Hamamah, Adel Imam, Jameel Rateb, Sabah, Morgan
Freeman, Sean Penn, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Daoud Abdel Sayed,
Youssef Chahine, Rachid Bouchareb, Yash Chopra, Subhash Ghai among
others.
The eight day film festival ends on December 17.
@BJ-12.12
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3. Russia
agrees with India to construct 12 nuclear reactors
i. Russia's state-owned Rosatom said it would
supply 12 nuclear energy reactors for India over 20 years, under an agreement
aimed at boosting nuclear energy cooperation signed by the two countries during
a summit in New Delhi on Thursday.
ii. A 1,000-megawatt reactor is operating at
the Russian-built Kudankulam power station in India's Tamil Nadu district, with
a second due to come on stream in 2015.
iii. Russian President
Vladimir Putin had been pushing for Rosatom to increase the number of reactors
it could supply to as many as 25.
iv. Indian officials say that a
total of six reactors will be built at Kudankulam, with a further six to follow
at a site that has not yet been determined.
4.
Global economy to grow over 3% in 2015,
2016:UN
i. The
global economy will grow by more than 3 percent in 2015 and 2016 however the
growth will be uneven in some regions, predicts the United Nations.
ii. The
UN's annual economic report yesterday said that growth edged up in 2014 at an
estimated 2.6 percent. The UN is forecasting 3.1 percent economic growth in
2015 and 3.3 percent growth in 2016.
iii. The
World Economic Situation and Prospects 2015 report says business investment
will be a major driver in the United States, growth in the world's least
developed economies will exceed the global average, and strong household
consumption will keep East Asia the world's fastest growing region.
iv. Among
developed economies, the report says the United States will see 2.8 percent
growth in 2015 and 3.1 percent in 2016.
5.
India likely to improve economic growth to
6.3% in 2016: UN
i. A
United Nations report has said that India's economic growth is expected to
improve to 6.3 per cent in the next two years, with the country leading the
economic recovery in the South Asian region.
ii. The
UN World Economic Situation and Prospects, WESP, 2015 report, released today
says India is likely to make progress in implementing economic policy reforms
and help in providing support to business and consumer confidence. This
economic growth is despite the continuing financial crisis and the emergence of
new challenges, including geopolitical conflicts such as in Ukraine, and the
Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
iii. The
report also says that India is estimated to record a 5.4 percent economic
growth this year and its GDP will improve to 5.9 per cent next year and to 6.3
per cent in 2016.
6. Bhutan
became 181st member of MIGA, agency of World Bank
i. Bhutan on 8
December 2014 became the 181st member of Multilateral Investment Guarantee
Agency (MIGA).
ii. MIGA is the political risk insurance and credit enhancement
arm of the World Bank Group.
iii. Bhutan has fulfilled all of its membership
requirements to become the member of MIGA.
Benefits
of becoming a member
i. The
move will allow the private sector and corporations of a country to explore
external commercial borrowing (ECB).
ii. Once a member of MIGA, the private sector and
corporations in the country will have the option of directly applying to MIGA
for issuance of guarantee to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
iii. MIGA’s guarantee can
help investors obtain access to ECB with improved financial terms and
conditions.
7. Pioneer
of home video game console Ralph Henry Baer died
i. The pioneer of home video
game console Ralph Henry Baer died on 6 December 2014 in Manchester following a
brief illness. He was 92.
ii. He was famously known as the Father of Video Games due to
his contributions to video game industry.
8. Randhir Singh appointed as honorary member of IOC
i. Randhir Singh was appointed as an honorary member of
the International Olympic Committee (IOC). He was appointed as the honorary
member during the IOC session in Monaco held from 8 December 2014 to 9 December
2014.
ii. He was named for the
honorary membership of the IOC after he served IOC as a full member from India
from 2001 to 2014.
iii. Randhir Singh is the second
Indian to become an honorary member of the IOC after Ashwini Kumar. Ashwini
Kumar was also given the membership after serving as full IOC member from India.
9.
Pakistan beat Netherlands 4-2 in
quarter-final of Champions Trophy Hockey
i. Pakistan
becomes the first team to enter the semi finals of ongoing Hockey Champions
Trophy tournament at Bhubaneswar. They beat The Netherlands 4-2 in the quarter
finals.
ii. The
quarter final match between Argentina and Australia is underway. Later in the
evening, India will fight for a semi final spot as they take on Belgium in the
quarterfinals.
iii. The
match will begin at 7.30 pm. All India Radio will broadcast the live commentary
of the match. In other quarter final fixtures, England will face Germany in the
evening.
10. Adelaide
Test, Day 3: India in comfortable position; Kohli hits ton
i. On
third day of the Adelaide Cricket Test, India gets into a comfortable position
against Australia. At the stumps India were 369 for the loss of five wickets in
the first innings and now trail Australia by 148 runs.
ii. Skipper
Virat Kohli struck a superb century that cruised India from early hiccups.
Kohli paved the way for his 7th Test Century before he succumbed to Mitchell
Johnson's bouncer at 115 runs.
iii. Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane chipped in with half
centuries. For Australia Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Lyon picked 2 wickets
each. Earlier, in the morning hosts had declared their first innings at 517 for
7.
2.
Human Rights Day observed globally on 10
December
i. Human Rights Day was observed globally on 10 December
2014. The theme for the 2014 Human Rights Day is Human Rights 365.
Ii. The theme was based on the idea that every day is Human Rights Day
and everyone is entitled to basic human rights day.
iii. The day celebrates the fundamental
proposition in the Universal Declaration that each one of us, everywhere, at
all times is entitled to the full range of human rights, that human rights
belong equally to each of us and bind us together as a global community with
the same ideals and values.
iv. The
date was chosen to honour the United Nations General Assembly's adoption and
proclamation of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on 10 December
1948.
v. First Human Rights Day was celebrated in 1950.
3.
SBI launches first homegrown economic
indicator
i. The
State Bank of India has launched two indices namely the SBI Monthly
Composite Index and the SBI Yearly Composite Index that will
primarily track manufacturing activity and offer a forward-looking economic
trends.
ii. SBI
Chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya told reporters in Mumbai that the Index will
analyse data from both manufacturing and services industries to determine
expansion or contraction in the economy.
iii. Both
these indices will fulfill complementary purposes such as month-on-month
sentiment movement and year-on-year growth forecast, respectively.
iv. Currently,
Markers at present depend on HSBC India Purchasing Managers' Index(PMI) and
HSBC India Services Business Activity Index to get clues about economic trends.
4.
India’s second most “up and
coming” destination for expats: HSBC
i. India has been ranked as the second most ‘up and coming’
destination – the countries that are getting better as a place to live and work
in – for expats after China, says an HSBC survey.
ii. According to the Expat
Explorer survey commissioned by HSBC Expat, emerging Asian economies are an
attractive destination for challenge-seeking and adventurous expats, with 44
per cent of them saying they made the move for a new challenge.
iii. “India is likely to
develop its industrial sector to catch up on infrastructure development, which
will happen with the help of overseas funding. It’s natural to assume that the
foreign funding will bring along foreign human expertise,” HSBC India Head of
Retail Banking and Wealth Management Sanjiv Sud said.
iv. Indian economy is
consistently growing above 5 per cent every year, and is expected to post a 7.3
per cent growth in 2016, according to HSBC.
v. Expats in China and in
India are also the most confident and have a positive outlook on the local
economy with 60 per cent of them sharing the feeling that their host country is
getting better as a place to live and work, compared to the 32 per cent global
average.
5.
India’s GDP may grow 5-6% in 2015: Moody’s
i. Indian
economy is expected to pick up pace in 2015 and grow in the range of 5 to 6 per
cent, helped by strong domestic demand, rating agency Moody’s today said.
ii. “India
will have stronger GDP growth in 2015, which we forecast at 5-6 per cent, up
from around 5 per cent in 2014,” Moody’s said in a report titled — 2015
Outlook-Global Credit Conditions.
iii. The
country, it said, has benefited from a strong domestic demand base and
diversified export market that give protection from the effects of a slowing
Chinese economy and muted growth in the euro zone and Japan.
6.
BHEL commissioned Nyaborongo Hydro Power
Plant in Rwanda
i. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) successfully
commissioned a 28 MW Nyaborongo Hydro Electric Project in Rwanda on turnkey
basis.
ii. With the commissioning of
this project, the installed generating capacity of Republic of Rwanda has gone
up by 24 percent from 119 MW to 147 MW
iii. BHEL's scope of work in the
contract included turnkey execution for the Nyaborongo hydro power project
comprising two hydro generating units of 14 MW each.
7.
Ministry of Railways inaugurated Wi-Fi
broadband services at New Delhi railway station
i. Ministry of Railways inaugurated Wi-Fi broadband
services at the New Delhi railway station on 8 December 2014.
ii. The Wi-Fi facility is being
executed by RailTel, a Public Sector Undertaking of the Ministry of Railways.
iii. The
RailWire powered Wi-Fi will give maximum speed of 1 mbps and the facility is
free for first 30 minutes by registering on the Wi-Fi network through mobile.
iv. If
user wants to use beyond 30 minutes then the user may purchase scratch cards
priced at 25 rupees for 30 minutes and 35 rupees for 1 Hour and are valid for
24 hours.
8.
Azim Premji awarded Swiss Ambassador's Award
i. Chairman
of Wipro Azim Premji was awarded Swiss Ambassador's Award in Mumbai. He was
awarded for inspirational and socially responsible leadership.
ii. Switzerland
ambassador Linus von Castelmur praised Azim Premji as a beacon of the corporate
world who has maintained values such as tolerance, honesty and modesty.
iii. Swiss Ambassador's Award was constituted in 2010. The
award recognises individuals who have contributed to the promotion of
Indo-Swiss relations or have stood out for their exceptional role in society
and industry.
9.
Veteran Journalist Piratla Venkateswarlu
passed away
i.Veteran journalist Piratla
Venkateswarlu passed away on 8 December 2014 in
Narayanaguda following a brief illness. He was 74.
ii. Piratla began his career as
a full-time Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker.
iii. He was the National Secretary of Akhil Bharatiya
Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the students’ wing of Bharatiya Janata Party.
10. Pakistan
8th most dangerous country in the world: Report
i. A
US-based intelligence think tank has placed Pakistan eighth in the list of the
most dangerous countries in the world which is led by Iraq.
ii. Afghanistan,
the only other South Asian country in the list, is placed fourth in the Country
Threat Index, CTI compiled yesterday by Intel Center, a Washington-based
company working for intelligence agencies.
iii. The rankings were prepared after examining the volume of terrorist
and rebel alerts, messaging traffic, videos, photos, incidents and the number
of killed and injured in a country over the past 30 days.
iv. The
other countries in the top 10 are Nigeria (second), Somalia (third) followed by
Yemen (fifth), Syria (sixth), Libya(seventh), Egypt (ninth) and Kenya (10th).
1.
Modi wins TIME readers’ poll for
‘Person of the Year’
i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who did not
make it to the final eight selected byTIME for the annual ‘Person of the Year’ title,
has been hailed as one by its readers in an online poll conducted by the
publication.
ii. Mr. Modi has been named winner of this
year’s readers’ poll for TIME ‘Person
of the Year’, securing more than 16 per cent of the almost five million votes
cast.
iii. Protesters
in Ferguson, who were demonstrating against a grand jury’s decision not to
indict white police officer Darren Wilson who shot and killed unarmed black
teenager Michael Brown in August ranked second with 9 per cent of the votes. TIME said “a strong showing of readers from
India” helped drive Mr. Modi’s first-place finish.
iv. “More people from the country voted than
from any other country, with the exception of the United States,” it said.
Readers from more than 225 countries participated in the online poll, with U.S.
votes leading the tally at 37 per cent, followed by India at 17 per cent, and
Russia at 12 per cent.
v. TIME said Mr. Modi became
Prime Minister in May after securing a landslide victory on a “platform of
rebooting India’s stalling economy”. “But his detractors have questioned his
past record,” it added.
Note: The annual honour, that has been bestowed by the magazine
since 1927, goes to the person who “most influenced the news” during the year
“for better or worse”. Mr. Modi was among the 50 global leaders, business
chiefs and pop icons named as contenders for the annual honour.
2.
Govt bans all unregistered app-based taxi
providers
i. The
Centre has asked States to ensure that all unregistered taxi services cease
operations for now, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, after a female passenger
reported she was raped by a driver contracted to US online cab company Uber in
New Delhi.
ii. New
Delhi had already decided to ban all unregistered internet taxi firms after the
incident, a government official told Reuters earlier on Tuesday. Uber has been
operating in 11 Indian cities.
3.
Satyarthi, Malala to receive Nobel awards on
Wednesday
i. Child
rights activists India’s Kailash Satyarthi and Pakistan’s Malala Yousafzai,
along with 11 others will receive this year’s Nobel Prizes tomorrow.
ii. The
Nobel Laureates take centrestage in Sweden’s capital Stockholm and Norwegian
Oslo, where they will receive the Nobel medals, Nobel diplomas and documents
confirming the Nobel Prize amount.
iii. Satyarthi,
60, and Yousafzai, 17, will share the $1.1-million Peace Prize at Oslo, while
all the other awards will be presented in Stockholms.
iv. Satyarthi,
along with his wife Sumedha, son, daughter-in-law and daughter reached Oslo
yesterday.
v. Frenchman
Patrick Modiano will be presented the Literature Nobel, US-British scientist
John O’Keefe and Norwegian husband-and-wife duo Edvard and May-Britt Moser
Nobel in medicine and Japanese scientists Isamu Akasaki and Hiroshi Amano and
Japanese-born American Shuji Nakamura the Nobel in Physics.
vi. Americans
Eric Betzig and William Moerner and German scientist Stefan Hell will share the
Nobel in Chemistry, while Frenchman Jean Tirole will be presented the Nobel for
Economics.
Note: Since
1901, the Nobel Prizes have been presented to the Laureates at ceremonies on
December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.
4.
Gwladys Nocera of France won Hero Women's
Indian Golf Open 2014
i. Gwladys
Nocera of France on 6 December 2014 won the Hero Women's Indian Golf Open 2014
at the Delhi Golf Club. She received the prize money of 300000 US dollars.
ii. She
won her first title of the 2014 season with a score 11 under par total of 208.
5.
Subramanian Committee on Leveraging the Post
Office Network submitted report to Union government
i. Subramanian Committee on Leveraging the Post Office
Network on 4
December 2014 submitted its report to the Union Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
ii. The
objective of the Committee was to transform the Post Office Network in keeping
with changing market trends and competition.
iii. The
committee has made around 181 recommendations to make the post office
competitive and efficient. These recommendations ranges from formulation of a
New Postal Law to New Organisational design of India Post to Extension of Post
Office network in Rural areas.
6.
Hockey Olympian Grihanandan Singh died
i. Hockey Olympian Grihanandan Singh died on 7 December
2014 in New Delhi. He was 88.
ii. Nick named Nandy Singh was
an Indian field hockey player who won two Olympic gold medals, at the 1948
London Olympics and later in 1952 Helsinki Olympics with the Indian team.
7.
Warren buffet became second richest person of
World
i. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Warren
buffet became second richest person in the World. He replaced Carlos Slim,
business magnate of Mexico. Bill Gates is the world richest person.
ii. Buffet chairman of
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. has a net worth of 73.7 billion US dollars and his
annual business profits recorded 19.5 billion US dollars which is up 13
percent. Berkshire reached 52 week high in intraday trading which is closed at
185750 US dollars.
iii. Slim has net worth of 62.9
billion US dollars. Slim profit has fallen 10.9 billion US dollars since the
start of 2014 and his business profits dropped by 14 percent.
8.
Andhra Pradesh Government signed MoU with
Singapore for development of its new capital
i. Andhra Pradesh Government on 8 December 2014 signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Singapore for the development of its new
capital that is set to come up near Vijawayada region.
ii. The MoU was signed by
International Enterprise Singapore CEO Teo Eng Cheong and the Infrastructure
Corporation of the Andhra Pradesh representative Sambasiva Rao.
iii. Under the MoU, Singapore
will prepare a master plan for building the new capital of Andhra Pradesh.
iv. The master plan will be designed for the capital
region that is likely to come up in an area of approximately 7300 square
kilometres and also for the capital city that will be spread in an area of 125
square kilometres.
9.
Adelaide Test: Warner hits
century before India fight back
i. Australia's David Warner paid a fitting tribute to his deceased
teammate Phillip Hughes by cracking a rollicking 145 before India clawed back
with three quick blows to share the honours on an emotionally charged opening
day of the first cricket Test in Adelaide on Tuesday.
ii. Opting
to bat first, Australia rode on Warner's 10th Test century and were cruising
along comfortably before India struck three vital blows at the fag end of the
day to reduce the hosts to 354 for six at the Adelaide Oval.
iii. The home team was comfortably placed at 258
for two when Warner became debutant spinner Karn Sharma's maiden victim, which
triggered a collapse of sorts with Mitchell Marsh (41), night-watchman Nathan
Lyon (3) and Brad Haddin (0) falling in quick succession to help India stage a
fightback.
iv. Steven Smith was
unbeaten on 72 when stumps were drawn for the day with four balls still to be
bowled.
v. Earlier, the stadium witnessed a
gamut of emotions before the commencement of the match as spectators clapped for exactly 63
seconds as a mark of respect for Hughes.
vi. Both teams wore black arm bands
while the Australians had Hughes' Test cap No 408 inscribed on their jerseys.
vii. Warner was finally out after facing 163 balls and striking
19 boundaries. He holed out in the deep mid-wicket region where Ishant Sharma
took a catch off Karn's bowling.
1. Narndra Modi named 'Asian of the
Year' by Singapore's Straits Times
i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was today
named ‘Asian of the Year’ for being a development-focused leader by editors of
Singapore’s leading daily, The Straits Times.
ii. “Despite being relatively new to
the job,
he has already made a mark on Asia, reaching out to neighbours and receiving national
leaders including Xi Jinping of China and Tony Abbott of Australia,” said the
Singapore Press Holdings Ltd, publisher of the daily.
iii. It said Modi has had a highly successful visit to Japan
for a summit with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
iv. “Mr Modi has got India and the world excited about his
country’s prospects again. He has given his people a renewed sense of direction
and purpose, and there are hopeful signs that he is minded to using his strong
mandate to good effect in one of Asia’s major powers. We wish him and India
every success,” Warren Fernandez, editor of the daily said.
v. Every December, editors
of the Singapore daily pick an Asian whose actions have significantly impacted
his own society or the wider Asian continent in the 12 months past.
2. Govt relaxes norms
for licenses for e-rickshaw drivers
i. The government on
Friday approved relaxation in norms for e-rickshaw drivers, paving the way for
the battery-operated vehicles to ply on national capital roads, which were
banned by the Delhi High Court on safety concerns.
ii. "Cabinet has
approved relaxation in norms for driving licences for e-rickshaw drivers,"
a source said after the Cabinet meeting in New Delhi on Friday.
iii. "The norms have been relaxed
for issuing licences for e-rickshaw drivers. The provision that no person shall
be granted a learners licence to drive a commercial vehicle unless he or she has held a driving
licence for light motor vehicle for at least one year has been waived,"
another source said.
iv. E-rickshaw is a legal entity and
any driver passing the driving test would now be granted a licence, he
added.
v. The government in October had
notified the rules for plying of e-rickshaws making drivers licence mandatory
for operating them and limiting the maximum speed to 25 km per hour.
3. RBI relaxed norms for PPIs and doubled
the limit to one lakh rupees
i. The Reserve
Bank of
India (RBI) on 3 December 2014 relaxed the norms for Pre-paid Payment Instruments (PPI) and doubled
the limit of PPI from 50000 rupees to one lakh rupees.
ii. The move would help
in achieving the objective of limiting cashtransactions in the system.
Highlights of RBI norms on PPI
i. The maximum
validity of gift
cards has been
enhanced from one year to three years. Other provisions of PPI guidelines with
respect to gift cards will continue.
ii. RBI also allowed issue of multiple PPIs by banks from
fully-KYC compliant bank accounts for dependent or family members.
iii. Only one card can be issued to one beneficiary.
iv. The bank may put in place mechanisms to monitor and report
suspicious transactions on these PPIs to Financial Intelligence Unit India
(FIU-IND).
v. The central bank also permitted banks to issue rupee
denominated PPIs for visiting foreign nationals and NRIs.
4. RBI issues norms for trading platform
for MSME receivables
i. RBI issued guidelines for setting up a trading platform
for trade receivables and bills of exchanges of Micro and Small and Medium
Enterprises - MSME.
ii. In a notification issued from Mumbai, RBI said that the
Trade Receivables Discounting System - TReDS should have a minimum paid up
equity capital of 25 crore rupees and non-promoters would not hold over 10 per
cent of the equity capital of TReDS.
iii. The foreign shareholding in the TReDS would be as per
the extant foreign investment policy. According to RBI, TReDS will facilitate
financing of invoices/bills of MSMEs drawn on corporate and other buyers,
including government departments and PSUs by way of discounting. It would
discount invoices so that final payment of the bill to the MSME is made by
buyer on a due date.
iv. RBI has said that entities, other than the promoters,
will not be permitted to have shareholding in excess of 10 per cent of the
equity capital of the TReDS.
v. The overall financial strength of the promoters/entity
seeking to set up TReDS would be an important criteria of assessment/selection.
5. HDFC Bank rules out a JV for payment
bank
i. HDFC Bank has become the first in the sector to
rule out a joint venture partnership with any applicant for one of the
proposed payment banks (PBs).
ii. “We will not do a joint venture for this. We are a full
bank ourselves and don’t need to form an alliance,” said Aditya Puri, managing
director.
iii. In final guidelines issued last week,
the Reserve Bank of India has allowed entities to form an alliance with a
lender to form a PB.
iv. The idea is that PBs would tap unbanked areas and such
an alliance would help. Puri said HDFC
Bank was capable of tapping far-flung areas on its own. Nor does he think they
pose a worry on competition.
v. “There is enough for everyone to do. There is space for
payment banks, small banks, regional rural banks and large banks to exist,” he
said.
6. NRAI chief Raninder becomes first
elected Indian in ISSF committee
i. National Rifle Association of India President Raninder
Singh has created history by becoming the first Indian to become an elected
member of the all-powerful International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF)'s
Executive Committee.
ii. Contesting his first election, Raninder garnered 22 out
of 25 votes in the General Assembly meeting held at Munich,Germany.
iii. It is the first time in its 107-year history that an
Indian has been elected as the member of the global body representing the sport
of Shooting. He was also elected as the member of the Administrative Council of
ISSF with 145 out of 293 votes.
7. Private entity cannot hold more than
26% in coal venture
i. A private sector entity cannot own more than 26 per cent stake in
public-private joint ventures for coal block allocations. However, if it is
more than one private sector entity, the structure should be such that its
stake does not exceed 49 per cent.
ii. “This will ensure that the private party cannot veto
board decisions,” a senior Coal Ministry
official said.
iii. This will also enable Government entities to retain the
majority stake. In seeking the Cabinet’s nod for the Coal Mines (Special
Provisions) Bill, 2014 to replace the ordinance, the Government has proposed
this change.
iv. A total of 92 blocks are being offered under the first
round.
8. Hockey Champions Trophy begins in
Odisha
i. The Hockey Champions Trophy has been inaugurated at the Kalinga Stadium at
Bhubaneswar in Odisha.
ii. All the eight
Captains of the participating teams were present during the inauguration of the
Trophy being organized by Federation of International Hockey (FIH).
iii. The Tournament matches are starting from tomorrow as every team
will play three league matches.
iv. India will
play Germany, Argentina and Netherlands on 6th, 7th and 9th this month.
Australia, Belgium, England and Pakistan are also participating in the
Champions Trophy.
9. Air India, NBCC sign MoU for
development of land parcels
i. Air India and National Buildings Construction Corporation
Limited, NBCC, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU for development
of land parcels of Air India at various locations on joint venture basis.
ii. The MoU was signed in the presence of Urban Development
Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju.
iii. Partnering with NBCC will help both parties unlock more
value from Air India’s land, totalling nearly 8 million square feet spread
across the country. It will benefit from the government’s recent move to hike
the floor area ratio of a building's constructed area to the size of land.
1. Narndra Modi named 'Asian of the
Year' by Singapore's Straits Times
i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was today
named ‘Asian of the Year’ for being a development-focused leader by editors of
Singapore’s leading daily, The Straits Times.
ii. “Despite being relatively new to
the job,
he has already made a mark on Asia, reaching out to neighbours and receiving national
leaders including Xi Jinping of China and Tony Abbott of Australia,” said the
Singapore Press Holdings Ltd, publisher of the daily.
iii. It said Modi has had a highly successful visit to Japan
for a summit with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
iv. “Mr Modi has got India and the world excited about his
country’s prospects again. He has given his people a renewed sense of direction
and purpose, and there are hopeful signs that he is minded to using his strong
mandate to good effect in one of Asia’s major powers. We wish him and India
every success,” Warren Fernandez, editor of the daily said.
v. Every December, editors
of the Singapore daily pick an Asian whose actions have significantly impacted
his own society or the wider Asian continent in the 12 months past.
2. Govt relaxes norms
for licenses for e-rickshaw drivers
i. The government on
Friday approved relaxation in norms for e-rickshaw drivers, paving the way for
the battery-operated vehicles to ply on national capital roads, which were
banned by the Delhi High Court on safety concerns.
ii. "Cabinet has
approved relaxation in norms for driving licences for e-rickshaw drivers,"
a source said after the Cabinet meeting in New Delhi on Friday.
iii. "The norms have been relaxed
for issuing licences for e-rickshaw drivers. The provision that no person shall
be granted a learners licence to drive a commercial vehicle unless he or she has held a driving
licence for light motor vehicle for at least one year has been waived,"
another source said.
iv. E-rickshaw is a legal entity and
any driver passing the driving test would now be granted a licence, he
added.
v. The government in October had
notified the rules for plying of e-rickshaws making drivers licence mandatory
for operating them and limiting the maximum speed to 25 km per hour.
3. RBI relaxed norms for PPIs and doubled
the limit to one lakh rupees
i. The Reserve
Bank of
India (RBI) on 3 December 2014 relaxed the norms for Pre-paid Payment Instruments (PPI) and doubled
the limit of PPI from 50000 rupees to one lakh rupees.
ii. The move would help
in achieving the objective of limiting cashtransactions in the system.
Highlights of RBI norms on PPI
i. The maximum
validity of gift
cards has been
enhanced from one year to three years. Other provisions of PPI guidelines with
respect to gift cards will continue.
ii. RBI also allowed issue of multiple PPIs by banks from
fully-KYC compliant bank accounts for dependent or family members.
iii. Only one card can be issued to one beneficiary.
iv. The bank may put in place mechanisms to monitor and report
suspicious transactions on these PPIs to Financial Intelligence Unit India
(FIU-IND).
v. The central bank also permitted banks to issue rupee
denominated PPIs for visiting foreign nationals and NRIs.
4. RBI issues norms for trading platform
for MSME receivables
i. RBI issued guidelines for setting up a trading platform
for trade receivables and bills of exchanges of Micro and Small and Medium
Enterprises - MSME.
ii. In a notification issued from Mumbai, RBI said that the
Trade Receivables Discounting System - TReDS should have a minimum paid up
equity capital of 25 crore rupees and non-promoters would not hold over 10 per
cent of the equity capital of TReDS.
iii. The foreign shareholding in the TReDS would be as per
the extant foreign investment policy. According to RBI, TReDS will facilitate
financing of invoices/bills of MSMEs drawn on corporate and other buyers,
including government departments and PSUs by way of discounting. It would
discount invoices so that final payment of the bill to the MSME is made by
buyer on a due date.
iv. RBI has said that entities, other than the promoters,
will not be permitted to have shareholding in excess of 10 per cent of the
equity capital of the TReDS.
v. The overall financial strength of the promoters/entity
seeking to set up TReDS would be an important criteria of assessment/selection.
5. HDFC Bank rules out a JV for payment
bank
i. HDFC Bank has become the first in the sector to
rule out a joint venture partnership with any applicant for one of the
proposed payment banks (PBs).
ii. “We will not do a joint venture for this. We are a full
bank ourselves and don’t need to form an alliance,” said Aditya Puri, managing
director.
iii. In final guidelines issued last week,
the Reserve Bank of India has allowed entities to form an alliance with a
lender to form a PB.
iv. The idea is that PBs would tap unbanked areas and such
an alliance would help. Puri said HDFC
Bank was capable of tapping far-flung areas on its own. Nor does he think they
pose a worry on competition.
v. “There is enough for everyone to do. There is space for
payment banks, small banks, regional rural banks and large banks to exist,” he
said.
6. NRAI chief Raninder becomes first
elected Indian in ISSF committee
i. National Rifle Association of India President Raninder
Singh has created history by becoming the first Indian to become an elected
member of the all-powerful International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF)'s
Executive Committee.
ii. Contesting his first election, Raninder garnered 22 out
of 25 votes in the General Assembly meeting held at Munich,Germany.
iii. It is the first time in its 107-year history that an
Indian has been elected as the member of the global body representing the sport
of Shooting. He was also elected as the member of the Administrative Council of
ISSF with 145 out of 293 votes.
7. Private entity cannot hold more than
26% in coal venture
i. A private sector entity cannot own more than 26 per cent stake in
public-private joint ventures for coal block allocations. However, if it is
more than one private sector entity, the structure should be such that its
stake does not exceed 49 per cent.
ii. “This will ensure that the private party cannot veto
board decisions,” a senior Coal Ministry
official said.
iii. This will also enable Government entities to retain the
majority stake. In seeking the Cabinet’s nod for the Coal Mines (Special
Provisions) Bill, 2014 to replace the ordinance, the Government has proposed
this change.
iv. A total of 92 blocks are being offered under the first
round.
8. Hockey Champions Trophy begins in
Odisha
i. The Hockey Champions Trophy has been inaugurated at the Kalinga Stadium at
Bhubaneswar in Odisha.
ii. All the eight
Captains of the participating teams were present during the inauguration of the
Trophy being organized by Federation of International Hockey (FIH).
iii. The Tournament matches are starting from tomorrow as every team
will play three league matches.
iv. India will
play Germany, Argentina and Netherlands on 6th, 7th and 9th this month.
Australia, Belgium, England and Pakistan are also participating in the
Champions Trophy.
9. Air India, NBCC sign MoU for
development of land parcels
i. Air India and National Buildings Construction Corporation
Limited, NBCC, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU for development
of land parcels of Air India at various locations on joint venture basis.
ii. The MoU was signed in the presence of Urban Development
Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju.
iii. Partnering with NBCC will help both parties unlock more
value from Air India’s land, totalling nearly 8 million square feet spread
across the country. It will benefit from the government’s recent move to hike
the floor area ratio of a building's constructed area to the size of land.
Read more: http://www.bankersadda.com/2014/12/daily-gk-update-5th-december-2014.html#ixzz3LgRfSt8b
Hi to day is 15 December 2014
Sydney: Hostages held in Lindt cafe; PM Modi condemns
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|
 Updated on : 15-12-2014 12:36 PM
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An
armed man on Monday took undisclosed number of people hostage at a
popular cafe in Sydney and displayed an Islamic flag with Arabic script
in the window, sparking a security alert in Australia. According to
latest reports five hostages have reportedly escaped so far.
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Authorities
sealed off surrounding streets, evacuated people from buildings, and
suspended rail services following the incident at the Lindt Chocolate
Cafe in Martin Place, in the heart of the city's business district.
Martin Place is a public pedestrian thoroughfare through the heart of
Sydney, joining its parliamentary, legal and retail districts.
Television footage showed people inside the cafe with their hands
pressed against the window holding the black flag known as Shahadah, a
prayer spoken in mosques daily, and not a flag specific to the Islamic
State.
Lindt Australia executive says there are about 10 staff and up to 30 customers trapped in the cafe.
Police declined to comment on the number of hostages involved. Andrew
Scipione, the New South Wales Police Commissioner, said that there was
only a single gunman involved.
"I can confirm for you that we
have an armed offender in the premises holding an undisclosed number of
hostages in the city, in the Martin Place area," he said.
However, he has made clear that police are not in direct contact with the hostage taker.
"My advice is we haven't had contact with the armed offender," he said.
"We're
still not in a position to determine where the individual is from".
Scipione said at this stage police were treated it as a hostage
situation but were "on a footing consistent with a terrorist act".
"We
are working as long as we need to to bring this to a peaceful outcome,"
he said. Martin Place, Sydney Opera House, State Library and all court
houses here have been evacuated. Prime Minister Tony Abbott convened a
meeting of his security inner circle in his cabinet to discuss the
response to the hostage-taking.
"This is obviously a deeply concerning incident but all Australians
should be reassured that our law enforcement and security agencies are
well trained and equipped and are responding in a thorough and
professional manner," Abbott said.
"We don't yet know the
motivation of the perpetrator, we don't know whether this is politically
motivated, although obviously there are some indications that it could
be," Abbott said at a short media briefing held in Canberra, Australia's
capital.
"There are people, even in a society such as ours, who would wish to do us harm".
"The whole point of politically motivated violence is to scare people out of being themselves," he said.
"Australia
is a peaceful, open and generous society and nothing should ever change
that and that is why I would urge all Australians today to go about
their business as usual."
Abbott said security agencies had not
detected any particular plots but the raised alert level meant there
were people in Australia with the "intent and capability" to carry out a
terror attack.
Hundreds of police had been mobilised, including
those specially trained for terrorist threats, tactical officers and
neogtiators to general duties officers and traffic police handling road
closures.
Thousands of workers across the city have been sent home early and some of the city's major buildings evacuated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condemned as "inhuman" the
hostage crisis in Australia and said he prays for everybody's safety.
"The incident in Sydney is disturbing. Such acts are inhuman &
deeply unfortunate. I pray for everyone's safety," PM Modi tweeted.
Several people were today taken hostage at a popular cafe in the heart
of Sydney city in south-east Australia at least by one gunman, according
to media reports.
An Islamic flag was also reportedly seen
hanging from the window of the cafe. Witnesses claimed hearing loud
bangs that sounded like gun shots.
(PT-15/12)
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Japan's Abe re-elected in low-turnout polls
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|
 Updated on : 15-12-2014 11:16 AM
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Japanese
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won comfortable re-election on Sunday in a
snap poll he had billed as a referendum on his economic policies, but a
record low voter turnout threatened to cloud any mandate.
|
Despite only around half of voters casting a ballot, the conservative
Abe claimed popular endorsement for his mix of nationalism and
"Abenomics" -- a signature plan to fix the country's flaccid economy
that enjoyed early success but faded into a recession.
"The
ruling coalition has been given a majority," Abe told a television
interviewer. "We humbly want to meet the public's expectations. "I think
we received people's mandate for the Abe government's performance in
the past two years. But we must not be complacent and must carefully
explain to the public when implementing policies," Abe told TBS.
Media
exit polls showed his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its
junior partner Komeito had swept the ballot, with an unassailable
two-thirds majority in the lower house of parliament, giving them the
power to override the upper chamber. TV Asahi said the pairing had won
333 of the 475 seats, while TBS put the figure at 328.
Washington was among the first to welcome Abe's victory, hailing his
"strong leadership on a wide range of regional and global issues" from
Ebola to the fight against the Islamic State group.
"The
US-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of peace and prosperity in the
Asia-Pacific," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a statement.
Abe, 60, was only halfway through his four-year term when he called the
vote last month.
The first two of his "three arrows" of
Abenomics -- monetary easing and fiscal stimulus -- have largely hit
their targets; the once-painfully high yen has plunged, giving exporters
a boost, and stocks have rocketed.
Prices have also begun
rising after years of treading water -- proof, says Abe, that this is
the beginning of a virtuous circle of economic growth, with higher wages
soon to follow.
However a sales tax rise in April snuffed out
consumer spending, sending Japan into the two negative quarters of
growth that make a recession. Economists say more important than the
sugar rush offered by easy money and government spending is structural
reform of Japan's highly-regulated and protected economy -- the third
arrow of Abenomics.
(MC-14.12)
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Nation remembers Sardar Patel on his death anniversary
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 Updated on : 15-12-2014 09:35 AM
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Nation
paid homage to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 64th death anniversary.
He was one of the great social leaders of India. He played a crucial
role during the freedom struggle of India and was instrumental in the
integration of over 500 princely states into the Indian Union.
|
Despite the choice of the people, on the request of Mahatma Gandhi,
Sardar Patel stepped down from the candidacy of Congress president. The
election on that occasion eventually meant for the election of the first
Prime Minister of independent India.
Vallabhbhai Patel was born on October 31, 1875 in Gujarat to Zaverbhai
and Ladbai. Vallabhbhai, His father had served in the army of the Queen
of Jhansi while his mother was a very spiritual man.
Starting his academic career in a Gujarati medium school Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and shifted to an English medium school.
In 1897, Vallabhbhai passed his high school examination and started
preparing for law examination. 1910, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel went to
England to study law. He completed his law studies in 1913 and came back
to India and started his law practice.
For his Excellencies in Law, Vallabhbhai was offered many lucrative
posts by the British Government but he rejected all. He was a staunch
opponent of the British government and its laws and therefore decided
not to work for the British.
He later started practicing at Ahmedabad. After a meeting with Mahatma
Gandhi, at the Gujarat Club, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel got influenced by
Gandhi's words. Later, inspired by Gandhi's work and philosophy Patel
became a staunch follower of him.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tributes to the country's first
Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his death anniversary, saying
the nation will remain indebted to him forever.
"On his Punya Tithi (death anniversary), I pay my respects to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel," Modi tweeted.
"India will forever be indebted to Sardar Patel for his tireless efforts to unite the Nation," he added.
Known as the 'Iron Man' of India, Sardar Patel was instrumental in
uniting the country through merger of small princely states. He died of
cardiac arrest on this day in 1950.
(PT-15/12)
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Drug menace a national pain: PM
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 Updated on : 14-12-2014 12:56 PM
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Voicing concern over the "devastating" drug addiction menace, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi has said society as well as the government will
have to work together to fight this problem and that a helpline would be
set up soon to assist those seeking solutions.
|
In his third 'Mann Ki Baat' programme on radio on Sunday, he said
the menace is a "national pain" but instead of the youth mired in the
problem, drugs should be shunned.
He said drug addiction is "a malaise filled 3D -- darkness, destruction
and devastation -- as it leads to the dark alleys of destruction and
devastation".
The Prime Minister said a thinking process should begin to ensure that
the country is rid of this problem and added that he will try to involve
celebrities from the cine world, sports and other fields to campaign
for a "drug-free India".
"For long, I have been having concern about the young generation...That
some son has got caught in such a quagmire where everything is
devastated.
Drugs are such a devastation," Modi said in his broadcast to the nation.
At the same time, he said, "drug addiction is bad, not the child."
Describing it as a psycho-socio-medical problem, he said the family,
friends, society, government and the law will have to work together to
fight it as working in pieces will not help.
He said he had asked his officials to set up a toll free helpline soon to assist those seeking answers to the problem.
The Prime Minister also suggested launching a special drive on social media against the menace.
(AKS-14/12)
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Bangladesh launches manual campaign to clean up oil spill
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|
 Updated on : 13-12-2014 07:05 PM
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Bangladesh
launched an intensified manual campaign on Saturday to clean up seepage
following a huge oil spill in 34,000 hectares at the Sunderbans that
threatened the world's largest mangrove forest.
|
The
manual cleanup campaign came as authorities on India's eastern coast
are on alert with additional director of India's Sundarban Biosphere
Reserve Pradeep Vyas saying "We are taking all precautionary measures".
Officials and witnesses said the forest department engaged nearly 100
boats to collect the furnace oil spilled from the tanker which sank in
the Shela river in the Sundarbans after being hit by a cargo vessel on
Tuesday.
"At least 200 hired workers in nearly 100 engine and country boats have
started a campaign to collect the oil from rivers and channels," a local
resident told mediapersons over phone.
"The workers were loading the boats with the oil they were collecting
manually using the traditional equipment and depositing those in tanks
in nearby ferry terminals". "The oil collection will continue until
further notice," a forest official told a TV channel from the scene.
Forest official Amir Hossain Chowdhury said they were expected to reach a
decision on the modus operandi of the oil clean up by later today.
Director General of Environment Department Mohammad Shahjahan told
newsmen they have sent the specimen of the chemicals for analysis to
their own laboratory and the testing facilities of the Bangladesh
University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
"But we are yet to get their reports and suggestions. So until now we
cannot give permission for its use in the Sundarbans," he said.
The authorities earlier had asked local people to collect the furnace
oil using fishing nets, sponges or any other manual means and sell it to
the state-run Padma Oil Company.
The seepage spread in the Shela and the Pashur rivers and over 20 canals
which criss-crosses the Sundarbans in the past four days while
officials found four out of six chambers of the tanker carrying 358,000
litres oil damaged Seven members of the sunken tanker's crew managed to
swim ashore, but their captain Mokhlesur Rahman was missing till
yesterday evening.
The authorities have filed a lawsuit against the owners of both ships.
Bangladesh is yet to seek any overseas assistance to remove the oil but
shipping minister Shahjahan Khan on Friday told the a radio channel that
a London-based team officered its assistance for the clean-up.
Officials said oil spill from the sunken tanker affected seven young
saltwater crocodiles at Karamjal Wildlife Reproduction centre and they
were concerned about the fate of dolphins in the region it is their
natural abode.
The Sundarbans forest is the world largest
mangrove forest, which covers 26,000 square km in India and Bangladesh,
is also the habitat of famous Royal Bengal Tigers.
(JM-13.12)
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EU, US confirm new Iran nuclear talks on 17 Dec
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|
 Updated on : 13-12-2014 03:05 AM
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|
The
EU and the US on Friday confirmed that extended nuclear talks between
with Iran will resume on 17th December in Geneva after they failed to
reach a deal with Tehran last month.
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The talks, first announced in a report from Iran on Thursday, will be at
the level of senior policy officials rather than foreign ministers, the
European Union's diplomatic service said.
"The political directors of the (world powers) and Iran will meet again
on 17 December 2014 in Geneva for a one-day meeting to continue
diplomatic efforts towards reaching a long-term, comprehensive
solution," it said in a statement on Friday.
Washington confirmed that acting Deputy Secretary for State Wendy
Sherman would first hold bilateral talks with the Iranian delegation in
the Swiss city on Monday and Tuesday.
"These bilateral consultations will take place in the context of the
P5+1 nuclear negotiations with Iran, led by EU special advisor Cathy
Ashton," the State Department said in a statement.
The P5+1 group comprises the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany.
The US-Iran bilateral talks would be joined for part of the meeting by the EU's Helga Schmid, it added.
It will be the first time the sides have met since failing to meet a
24th November deadline for a full deal with Iran on reining in its
nuclear programme in exchange for an easing of crippling international
sanctions.
The global powers and Iran agreed to give themselves until 30th June to
strike a deal, although they hope to have the broad outlines hammered
out by March.
The EU's external affairs arm said the P5+1 talks in Geneva next week would be technical, not political.
Accordingly, Ashton, who chaired the talks previously and now serves as
special Iran adviser to her successor Federica Mogherini, will not
attend the talks, a spokeswoman said.
Mogherini announced Friday that Ashton would continue to lead the negotiations with Iran so as to ensure continuity.
A final agreement is aimed at ensuring Tehran will never develop nuclear weapons under the guise of its civilian activities.
Iran denies that it is seeking the bomb and insists its nuclear activities are for solely peaceful purposes.
(DD-13.12)
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Defence cooperation important pillar of India-Russia ties: President
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 Updated on : 13-12-2014 01:47 AM
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President
Pranab Mukherjee has said defence cooperation is an important pillar of
the strategic partnership between India and Russia and Moscow will
remain a trusted and indispensable partner for New Delhi's defence
needs.
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Interacting
with Russian President Vladimir Putin last evening, Mukherjee said
India welcomes Russian participation in India's defence sector in joint
production, research and development and offsets, a release issued by
the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.
"Defence cooperation is an important pillar of the strategic partnership
between India and Russia. Russia will remain a trusted and
indispensable partner for India's defence needs," Mukherjee told Putin
when the later called on him in New Delhi.
The President said the economic dimension of the bilateral relationship
has huge untapped potential and expansion of trade and economic
cooperation with Russia is a priority for India. Mukherjee told Putin
that India considers him as a great friend and the guiding force behind
the strategic partnership between the two countries.
"India is fully committed to developing and deepening the India-Russia
partnership in diverse areas," he said. Mukherjee said he was happy that
during Putin's present visit, the two countries have outlined a joint
document laying out the vision for enhancing the strategic partnership
to a qualitatively new level in the coming years, the release said.
The President said India appreciates Russia's support for India's
permanent membership of the UN Security Council and the two countries
should work together to make progress in this direction. "India is also
grateful for Russia's support for India's membership of multilateral
export control regimes," he said.
The Russian President told Mukherjee that his visit has been successful
and meaningful and bilateral relations between the two countries are
developing well.
Putin agreed with the President that the two countries can do much
better on trade and said Russia would be happy to enhance cooperation in
various fields, including energy and defence.
The Russian President greeted Mukherjee on his 79th birthday yesterday
and gifted him copies of photographs and documentary films relating to
Rabindranath Tagore's visit to Russia in 1930, the release said.
(JM-12.12)
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Miss South Africa crowned Miss World
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 Updated on : 15-12-2014 12:01 AM
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South
African beauty Rolene Strauss was crowned Miss World 2014 on sunday at a
glittering ceremony in London as India's Koyal Rana lost out, finishing
in the top 10.
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Miss
Hungary, Edina Kulcsar, was the runner-up in the contest and Miss
United States, Elizabeth Safrit, came in third as an estimated billion
viewers watched the finale on television around the globe.
Priyanka Chopra was the last Indian winner of the coveted title in 2000.
21-year-old Jaipur-born Rana made it to the top 10 but failed to make
it to the top five. Rana, however, bagged the sub-title of Best Designer
of the world where she was seen standing gorgeously tall in a Falguni
& Shane Peacock gown.
She also shared the "Beauty With A Purpose" title with Kenya, Guyana,
Brazil and Indonesia. She was amongst top five in the Beach Beauty
contest. Rana, who is an active social worker and has an NGO, performed
to a bollywood song at the start of the event.
"I am extremely thankful to Miss India Organization, my family and
friends for supporting me through this wonderful journey. It was a
wonderful experience," Rana said after the event. She is currently the
face of fbb, Neutrogena and many more fashion brands.
She has also been a showstopper for top designers and jewellery brands.
22-year-old Strauss, a medical student, beat 121 contestants across the
globe to the coveted title and was presented with the sash by the
outgoing Miss World, Megan Young of the Philippines.
She then sat in the winner's throne as the 2013 champion put the
glittering crown on her head at the EXCEL exhibition centre in east
London. "South Africa this is for you. I think I will brace myself for
what's about to happen. It's a huge responsibility," she said.
The Miss World pageant returned to the British capital city for the 2014
edition after its inception 63 years ago. The events started on
November 20, culminating in the grand finale tonight.
The event this year has been overshadowed by the murder of Miss
Honduras, 19-year-old Maria Jose Alvarado, who was shot dead with her
sister in their homeland last month on the day she was due to travel to
London.
This year's winner will travel to the violence-hit central American nation to build a school named in their honour.
(DPT- 14.12)
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Cong LS leader in Lokpal selection panel; Govt to move Bill
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 Updated on : 13-12-2014 12:20 AM
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Leader
of Congress party in Lok Sabha will be included in a panel to select
the chairperson and members of anti-corruption body Lokpal and an
amendment Bill in this regard will be introduced during the ongoing
session of the Parliament.
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Under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, the selection committee led by the
Prime Minister consists of the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Leader of
Opposition (LoP) in the Lower House, the Chief Justice of India or a
judge of the apex court nominated by him and an eminent jurist who could
be nominated by the President or any other member.
The Act, as now proposed to be amended, seeks to remove the deficiencies
and provide for the alternative of leader of single largest opposition
party in the Lok Sabha in the event there is no LoP in the House, for
being represented on the selection panel for appointments of chairperson
and members of Lokpal, an official statement said on Thursday.
The amendments, which were approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday, paves
the way for the inclusion of Congress party leader Mallikarjun Kharge in
the selection panel.
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has rejected Congress demands for LoP status to its leader.
Congress with 44 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha has emerged as the
second largest party after BJP's 282 but fell short by 11 to stake claim
to the LoP post for which it requires a strength of 55.
The Cabinet has also approved amendments to providing for qualifications
for appointment of Director of Prosecution in CBI and for its
functional independence.
The Director of Prosecution is appointed under the provisions of the
Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, which governs the working
of the CBI.
There shall be a Directorate of Prosecution headed by a Director who
shall be an officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary to the
Government of India, for conducting prosecution of cases, according to
the DSPE Act.
"There is no detail of qualification for appointment of Director of
Prosecution in the DSPE Act. The amendments are being brought to mention
qualification for the appointment and other enabling provisions to
ensure its free working. An amendment Bill will be introduced during the
ongoing Session of the Parliament," a senior official in the Department
of Personnel and Training said.
The proposed amendments will also address other deficiencies in the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.
The amendments also seek to synchronize the provisions of the Lokpal and
Lokayuktas Act with the existing regulating Acts, rules and regulations
in respect of declaration of assets and liabilities by various
categories of public servants and establish appropriate mechanisms to
obtain and publish such information received from public servants for
the benefit of the public, the statement said.
As per the Lokpal rules, every public servant shall file the returns of
his assets and liabilities, including that of his spouse and dependent
family members, on 31st March every year on or before 31st July of that
year.
For the current year, the last date for filing these returns was 15th September, which was later extended to December-end.
All Group A, B, and C employees are expected to file the declaration under the new rules.
There are about 22,95,374 employees in these three categories, as per the government's latest data.
(DD-11.12)
Hi today is 16 December 2014
Make tax evasion serious crime for black money info: SIT chief
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 Updated on : 14-12-2014 03:08 PM
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Tax evasion needs to be made a serious 'criminal offence' to force
foreign countries to reveal names and account details of Indians
stashing illicit wealth abroad, the Special Investigation Team on black
money has said.
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While adding more teeth to India's pursuit of black money kept
abroad, this would also check generation of unaccounted wealth within
the country, the SIT Chairman M B Shah said.
At present, tax
evasion is a civil offence in India and it is dealt under the Income Tax
Act, 1961 while forex violations are dealt under the Foreign Exchange
Management Act (FEMA).
Both the laws are civil in nature and do not have criminal proceedings attached as such.
"We
have made a serious pitch for this (making tax evasion a serious
criminal offence in India). One reason is that, if tax crimes remain
civil in nature, the foreign governments will not cooperate," Shah said.
"If this is made a crime, then there is no difficulty and then
they (foreign countries) are bound to reveal the names. That is the
main purpose," he added.
The Supreme Court-constituted SIT,
which has former Supreme Court judges M B Shah and Arijit Pasayat as
Chairman and Vice-Chairman, recently submitted its latest report on
black money menace, wherein it has disclosed tracing of Rs 4,479 crore
held by Indians in a Swiss bank and unaccounted wealth worth Rs 14,958
crore within India.
In this report, the SIT pointed out that more than 25 countries have made "tax crimes" a predicate offence.
India
is seeking cooperation from a number of foreign jurisdictions,
including Switzerland, in cases of suspected black money, but its
requests have been turned down in maximum number of such instances as
tax evasion is not dealt under strict criminal laws, unlike money
laundering provisions.
To deal with this issue, the SIT has
suggested making tax evasion of Rs 50 lakh and above a 'predicate
offence', saying this would enable easier investigation into tax evasion
crimes under the stringent laws of money laundering as stipulated under
the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Pasayat said
there is also a need to limit holding and transportation of cash and to
check large-value 'unreported' cash dealings that are rampant even at
public places like shopping malls.
(AKS-14/12)
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Inflation hits zero level, lowest in over 5-years
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 Updated on : 15-12-2014 06:35 PM
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Declining
prices of vegetables and fuel items pulled down the inflation to zero
level in November, the lowest in about five and half years, exerting
pressure on RBI to cut rates to boost growth.
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The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) based inflation was at 1.77 percent in October and 7.52 percent in November 2013.
As per data released by the government on Monday, the WPI inflation
remained flat mainly on account of falling prices of vegetables,
especially onion, edible oil, petrol and diesel.
In view of the moderation in WPI inflation, which has been on declining
trajectory for six months, the industry has stepped up its demand for a
rate cut.
The Reserve Bank has maintained a status quo in interest rate since
January. The RBI factors in retail inflation while formulating its
monetary policy.
In its policy earlier this month, RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan had hinted
at a rate cut early next year if inflation continued to decline and
government took steps to contain fiscal deficit.
Food inflation, which is on decline since May, fell to nearly three year low of 0.63 percent.
Inflation in fuel and power segment fell 4.91 percent, the lowest level
since 2009.
This is probably the first time when WPI inflation has hit the exact
zero level. The last time WPI was lower than this was (-)0.3 percent in
July 2009.
Onion price contracted 56.28 percent as compared to a contraction of
59.77 percent in October. In case of vegetables, the contraction was
28.57 percent.
Industry chamber Assocham in its reaction to WPI numbers made a strong
pitch for an interest rate cut to boost demand for industrial goods and
push economic growth.
As per the data, prices of protein rich items of egg, meat and fish rose
4.36 percent during November, while inflation in potato stood at 34.10
percent.
Inflation in manufactured products, like sugar, edible oils, beverages
and cement, fell to 2.04 percent in November as against 2.43 percent in
the previous month.
Retail inflation data for November showed a record fall to 4.38 percent.
Meanwhile, ICRA Senior Economist Aditi Nayar said: "With monetary policy
focused on the medium term trajectory of CPI inflation, lower than
expected WPI print is unlikely to hasten rate cuts".
The decline in both retail and WPI inflation for November coupled with
contraction of industrial production to 4.2 percent in October will put
pressure on RBI to lower interest rates to boost growth.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley too on many occasions had nudged the RBI
to cut rates. The issue also figured during a debate in the Lok Sabha
last week.
RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has emphasised that interest rate cut by itself would not lift the economy.
Industry has been demanding easing of interest rates to boost growth, which has slumped to 4.7 percent in 2013-14.
The economy is estimated to grow in the range of 5.4-5.9 percent this fiscal.
(DD/PT-15.12)
Russia denies military jet near miss with airliner over Sweden
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 Updated on : 14-12-2014 04:25 PM
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Russia's defence ministry has denied a report by Swedish military that a
Russian military plane nearly collided this week with a passenger plane
over Sweden.
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Russia's defence ministry did not deny that its plane was in the
area at the time of the incident on Friday, but said that it was at a
safe distance of more than 70 kilometres (43 miles) from the flight path
of the passenger jet.
The incident happened amid growing concern in the Baltic region over
signs of more assertive Russian behaviour, including Russian planes
skirting or violating the national airspace of neighbouring countries.
"There were no conditions for an aviation incident connected to the
flight on Friday December 12 of a Russian military plane in the
international airspace over the Baltic Sea," defence ministry spokesman
Igor Konashenkov told TASS news agency.
"The distance from the flight path of the passenger jet that took off from Copenhagen was more than 70 kilometres," he added.
The spokesman confirmed the Swedish defence ministry's statement that
the Russian plane was flying without an electronic identification device
called a transponder that would have made it visible on the radar of a
commercial plane.
Sweden's Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist described flying without a transponder as "irresponsible".
But the Russian military spokesman countered that military planes from
NATO countries that fly in airspace close to Russia's borders are also
"always carried out with the transponder switched off".
"This doesn't mean that Russia's means of controlling the airspace do not spot them," he said.
(AKS-14/12)
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Essar signs $10 bn pact to import oil from Russia's Rosneft
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 Updated on : 15-12-2014 06:42 PM
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In one of the biggest oil deals, Essar Group on Thursday signed a USD 10
billion contract to import crude oil from Russia over a 10-year period.
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Essar signed a deal with Russia's top crude oil producer Rosneft to
buy 10 million tons a year of oil, worth about USD 10 billion, for 10
years beginning 2015.
The deal was among a host of agreements being signed during Russian
President Vladimir Putin's visit to India and talks with Prime Minister
Narendra Modi.
Moscow-based OAO Rosneft Chairman Igor Ivanovich Sechin said the
agreement was to ship by sea as much as 10 million tons of oil per year
to Essar Group.
The deal, he said, could be extended beyond 10 years.
"Rosneft and Essar signed key terms of oil and oil products supplies to
Essar refineries in India. Supplies may begin in 2015," Essar Oil, which
operates a 405,000 barrels per day (bpd) refinery at Vadinar in
Gujarat, and Rosneft said in a joint statement in New Delhi.
This is one of the biggest oil import deals any Indian refiner as
signed. Reliance Industries' 15-year deal to purchase 300,000 bpd to
400,000 bpd crude oil from Venezuela is possibly the biggest by an
Indian company.
Essar's 200,000 bpd (10 million tons a year) contract may be the second biggest.
"Consequently Rosneft expands its distribution area and builds up
deliveries to the region, where the world's economy growth zones are
concentrated," the statement said.
Essar head Shashi Ruia and Sechin signed the agreement in the presence Putin and Modi.
"The reached agreement opens new horizons of cooperation between the two
countries, thanks to the synergistic potential of the partnership in
upstream and downstream areas of two leaders of the oil and gas industry
of Russia and India.”
"Thanks to this agreement Rosneft grants itself a secure market outlet
of oil and oil products, while Essar gains a reliable and stable partner
as a supplier of oil and oil products to its refining facilities," it
said.
Sechin said the agreement will have a "substantial impact on the scale of economical cooperation between Russia and India."
"For our Indian partners the signing of this agreement represents a
vital element of basic supplies diversification which, at the same time,
will ensure energy security for the country. The Russian counterpart,
in turn, will get the possibility of production and supplies volume
planning to a new region with considerable growth potential," he said.
Ruia said the pact provides good long term raw material security to Essar's refineries.
RBY@11/12
India suffer close 3-4 defeat against Pakistan
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 Updated on : 13-12-2014 09:57 PM
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A
misfiring India squandered a golden opportunity to create history as
they went down 3-4 against arch-rivals Pakistan in a high-voltage
semifinal of the Hero Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Bhubaneshwar
on Saturday.
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India beat Pakistan to win World Cup for the Blind
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Updated on : 08-12-2014 05:48 AM
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India defeated defending champions Pakistan to win the 4th Cricket World Cup for the Blind in Cape Town on Sunday.
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In reply to Pakistan's 389, India scored 392 with two balls to spare.
Except for their initial match against Pakistan, India won all games in
the league, in which other participating countries were Sri Lanka,
Australia, Bangladesh and England and hosts South Africa.
Pakistan beat England in the semi-finals, while India ousted Sri Lanka.
South Africa won the inaugural edition of the Blind Cricket World Cup in
1998, but the game has been in decline since then due to a lack of
support from most national cricketing authorities, a fact lamented by
Indian captain Shekar Naik as well.
Naik said the team was elated at having won despite the great odds and
lack of support from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
"Despite India being the richest cricketing country in the world and
even managing the ICC, the BCCI still does not support blind
cricketers," Naik said.
"PCB do not have much money, yet they are still encouraging their blind
cricketers, even giving them a monthly salary," Naik added.
"We would do much better if we had that kind of support. The
contribution from the Indian Sports Ministry of 25 lakh made it possible
for us to come to South Africa and win, so I hope that we will get
better recognition now."
The Indian team comprised 17 players and three officials. The number of
visually challenged cricketers in India is 22,000, far more compared to
the 4,000 in Pakistan and only 200 in South Africa.
The President of Blind Cricket South Africa, Francois Neethling,
described the tournament as a great success, adding that players learnt a
lot from each other as they brought in new techniques to show their
colleagues from other countries how the game can be improved.
(AKS-08/12)
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More than 70 percent of HIV-AIDS patients not diagnosed
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 Updated on : 16-12-2014 11:48 AM
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More than 70 percent of people suffering from HIV-AIDS are not diagnosed
and are not aware that they are suffering from the dreaded disease.
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I S Gilada, president of AIDS society of India, said the fact
coupled with the lack of continuous medicine supply to treat the disease
were the two major challenges in fighting the menace.
"We need to educate people in such a way that they come forward to get
tested going by what they have done in the past and their lifestyle,"
Gilada said in Kolkata on Sunday.
An HIV AIDS affected person can live 10 years to 25 years after he is diagnosed to have the disease and is properly treated.
"But until and unless you are diagnosed how will you get treated ....
What is most important is a patient generally doesn't die because he has
HIV virus but due to some other disease as HIV kills the resistant
power of a human being," Gilda said.
The director in charge of National AIDS Research Institute, R R
Gangakhedkar said the prevalence of the disease is more among migratory
workers as they stay alone without their families.
(AKS-16/12)
HI to all today is 17 December 2014===========
and on the DD news
Carnage in Pakistan school as Taliban attack kills 140
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 Updated on : 16-12-2014 10:19 PM
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In the bloodiest terror attack in Pakistan in years, at least 140
people, mostly children, were on Tuesday killed by heavily-armed Taliban
suicide bombers who stormed an army-run school in Peshawar and took
several hostages, a throwback to the 2004 Beslan school siege by Chechen
rebels.
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A group of 8 Arabic-speaking attackers, wearing para- military
Frontier Corps uniforms, entered the Army Public School on Warsak Road
around 10.30 AM (local time) and started the massacre of innocents,
spraying bullets indiscriminately, going from classroom-to-classroom.
They also took several hostages using them as human shield.
The death toll in the attack has reached 140 with a majority of
them being students, official sources told news agencies. At least 122
others have been injured. They said that so far six militants have died -
four of them blew themselves up while two were shot dead by security
forces. Two militants are still alive.
20 teachers, including the principal, and 34 students are
hostages and the operation is continuing, an official of
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak's office said.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the attack, one of the worst in recent years.
The Taliban spokesman claimed that its 6 suicide bombers
attacked army school, saying it was a revenge for the army's operation
against militants in the North Waziristan tribal area close to Peshawar.
"We want them to feel our pain," the spokesman said.
World leaders united in condemning the attack as Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif termed it a "national tragedy" and chaired a security
meeting in Peshawar where he was briefed about the attack and operation.
Sharif reiterated that military operation 'Zarb-e-azab' to flush
out terrorists from the country's tribal belt will continue. "It's a
sheer act of cowardice...the country should unite to combat terrorism,"
he added.
Army Chief General Raheel Sharif also reached Peshawar to monitor the situation.
In one of the most gruesome attacks in recent years against
children anywhere in the world, the militants went from
classroom-to-classroom shooting indiscriminately at the shocked
students, eyewitnesses told local media.
One rescued student told reporters that the attackers had long
beards and they were wearing 'shalwar kamiz'. He said they were speaking
Arabic and looked like foreigners.
In the incident in Beslan in North Ossetia, Russia, at least 32
armed individuals stormed a school and took more than 1,000 hostages,
majority of them children. Over 330 people, mostly children, were killed
in the assault.
About 500 students and teachers were believed to be inside the school when the attack started.
Mushtaq Ghani, provincial information minister, said the
militants entered through a graveyard which is adjacent to the school.
The school is close to Saint Mary High School which has also been under
threat since the last couple of days.
A heavy contingent of police and security forces have blocked
the roads leading to the school, taking control of the entire area.
In a brief statement, the army said: "Rescue operation by troops
underway. Exchange of fire continues. Bulk of student and staff
evacuated."
The army had launched the massive military operation
'Zarb-e-Azb' in June following a brazen militant attack on Karachi's
international airport and the failure of peace talks between the
government and the Taliban negotiators.
The military has said more than 1,300 militants have been killed
during the operation in North Waziristan and adjacent tribal region and
it will continue till militancy was completely wiped out of Pakistan.
Opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan, whose
party rules Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, termed the attack as an act of
"barbarism".
In the wake of the attack, Khan postponed his plan to shut down the entire country that was planned for December 18.
Shagufta, who lives near the school, told Geo TV that she heard
two explosions, a smaller one followed by a huge bang. A student who
identified himself as Shuja told Samaa TV that they were taking
examination when firing started. They were told by the teacher to lie
down on the floor. He said they remained on floor for about one hour
when army soldiers came and told them to go out.
Several students escaped through the back gate. One of students
who escaped told Dunya TV that fourth period was in progress when they
heard firing. "First we didn't know what has happened. But late an army
officer told us to escape through back gate," he said.
A welcome ceremony planned in Lahore for the hockey team which
won silver medal in the champion trophy in India has been postponed.
Pakistan Hockey Federation said that the ceremony would be held at a
future suitable time.
Defence minister Khawaja Asif said in a statement, "We are
deeply fragmented today as a nation. For the sake of the children
martyred today and our children fighting the enemy for our existence, we
must have one message for the enemy (that) we shall overcome inshallah
and rid our land of this scourge.
Zarb-e-Azb to continue with full force and (our) Armed forces remain undeterred."
@BJ-16.12
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PM Modi speaks to Sharif; India stands firmly with Pak
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 Updated on : 16-12-2014 11:47 PM
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday night spoke to his Pakistan
counterpart Nawaz Sharif offering his "deepest condolences" on the
dastardly terror attack at a school in Peshawar and said India stands
firmly with his country in the fight against terrorism.
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Giving details of his conversation with Sharif in his Twitter account,
Modi appealed to all schools across India to observe two-minute silence
tomorrow "as a mark of solidarity."
As many as 141 people, nearly all of them school children, were
massacred today when heavily-armed Taliban suicide bombers stormed a
Pakistan army-run school in Peshawar firing indiscriminately, leaving
another 130 injured.
"Spoke to PM Nawaz Sharif over the telephone. Offered my deepest
condolences on the dastardly terror attack in Peshawar", said PM Modi in
a post on the micro-blogging site.
Reaching out to Sharif, Modi said in a separate post, that "India stands
firmly with Pakistan in fight against terror. Told PM Sharif we are
ready to provide all assistance during this hour of grief."
"In the wake of dastardly attack in Pakistan, I appeal to schools across
India to observe 2 mins of silence tomorrow as a mark of solidarity",
PM Modi said in another tweet.
In tweets earlier in on Tuesday, PM Modi strongly condemned the terror
attack on the Peshawar school, calling it "cowardly" and "a senseless
act of unspeakable brutality".
"My heart goes out to everyone who lost their loved ones today. We share their pain & offer our deepest condolences.
"Strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack at a school in Peshawar.
It is a senseless act of unspeakable brutality that has claimed lives
of the most innocent of human beings - young children in their school,"
he tweeted.
(IM- 17.12)
Indian, Bangladeshi soldiers celebrate Vijay Diwas
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 Updated on : 16-12-2014 05:53 PM
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War
veterans and serving officers of the Indian and Bangladeshi Armed
Forces came together on the occasion of the 43rd Vijay Diwas to
commemorate the sacrifices of Indian soldiers in the 1971 Bangladesh
Liberation War.
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They were led by General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command, Lt.Gen. M.M.S. Rai.
While the day is celebrated across the country, Vijay Diwas assumes a
greater significance at the Eastern Command where Mukti Jodhas
(Bangladeshi liberation fighters) and Indian soldiers had fought
together to put the Pakistani Army down decisively.
The soldiers reunite to celebrate the historic moment.
A host of retired and serving officers, including former army chief
General Shankar Roy Chowdhury and Bangladesh Social Welfare Minister
Syed Mohsin Ali, placed wreaths at the "Vijay Smarak" (Victory Memorial)
in Kolkata.
PM REMEMBERS SACRIFICES OF ARMED FORCES ON VIJAY DIWAS
Prime
Minister Narendra Modi today hailed the armed forces for their
sacrifices and valour as he commemorated India's victory over Pakistan
in the 1971 war, resulting in creation of Bangladesh.
"On Vijay Diwas, we remember sacrifices & valour of our
Armed Forces who fought courageously in 1971. We are extremely proud of
them," Modi tweeted.
Vijay Diwas (Victory Day) is commemorated every year on this
day as it marks India's military victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war.
The end of the war was marked by surrender of 93,000 Pakistani troops.
Today, Lt Gen (retd) J F R Jacob, who played a key role in the
1971 war, presented his books 'An Odyssey in War & Peace' and
'Surrender at Dacca' to Modi. "On this historic day, glad to have met
Lt. General (Retd.) JFR Jacob, known for his impeccable service to the
Army," the Prime Minister posted on Twitter.
@BJ-16.12
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UN chief condemns Pakistan school attack
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 Updated on : 16-12-2014 10:14 PM
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UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon led the world body in condemning the
"blood curdling" Taliban attack on "defenceless" children at an army-run
school in Pakistan's Peshawar city, saying no cause can justify such
brutality and horror.
Madan Mitra denied bail, CBI custody extended
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 Updated on : 16-12-2014 07:55 PM
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West
Bengal minister Madan Mitra - arrested in connection with the
multi-crore rupee Saradha chit fund scam - was on Tuesday denied bail
for the second time with a city court extending his CBI custody till Dec
19.
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Mitra, a top Trinamool Congress leader and close associate of Chief
Minister Mamata Banerjee, was presented before the court of chief
judicial magistrate (Alipore) amid heavy security during the day
following his Dec 12 arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation on
various charges including conspiracy and misappropriation of funds.
Following a ruckus created by Trinamool Congress activists during
Mitra's Dec 13 court hearing, the CBI wrote to the city and the
Bidhannagar police seeking adequate security measures to prevent the
recurrence of any commotion.
After hearing the prosecution and the defence, the court extended Mitra's CBI custody till Dec 19.
@BJ-16.12
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Telangana CM expands Cabinet, rewards TDP defectors
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 Updated on : 16-12-2014 12:30 PM
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Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday expanded his
12-member Cabinet with the induction of six members, including two who
recently quit the Telugu Desam Party to join the ruling TRS.
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The six members inducted are A Indrakaran Reddy, Talasani Srinivas
Yadav, Tummala Nageswara Rao, C Laxma Reddy, Jupally Krishna Rao and A
Chandulal.
They were administered oath of office and secrecy by Governor E S L
Narasimhan at Raj Bhavan.
Yadav, who won from Sanatnagar segment (in Hyderabad city) in the
elections on TDP ticket, recently joined the ruling Telangana Rashtra
Samiti (TRS), and on Tuesday announced his resignation from the
membership of the Assembly before the swearing-in.
He told reporters that he would seek re-election and thanked Rao for
inducting him into the Cabinet. Yadav's entry into the Cabinet is
expected to help TRS in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation
election, likely to be held next year, as he is a senior leader in the
city.
The Cabinet expansion is the first since the TRS government assumed
office on June two this year.
Former Minister Nageswara Rao, who is not a member of either House of
the Legislature, had switched loyalty to the TRS recently and was
rewarded with a berth.
(AKs-16/12)
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Over 3,000 participate in 'Kovai Marathon' in Tamil Nadu
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 Updated on : 14-12-2014 05:09 PM
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With the theme "Donate organs, Save Lives", more than 3,000 persons,
including doctors, students and members from educational institutions
participated in the 'Kovai Marathon' on Sunday.
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Organised by Kovai Medical Center and Hospital (KMCH), the run, an
annual feature since 1992 to lay stress on the importance of physical
well being of the people, was flagged off by the city Mayor from
Kongunadu Arts and Science College at 6.00 am and concluded at the
hospital, covering a distance of 18.2 kms.
A large number of school students, aged between 9 to 13 years, also
participated in a 6.5 kms event starting from VilankurichI junction.
The Winners were awarded with a cash prizes.
(DPT-14/12)
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Maha CM orders ACB probe against Ajit Pawar, top NCP leaders over graft
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 Updated on : 13-12-2014 05:53 PM
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Three
top NCP leaders including former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ajit Pawar
will face 'open inquiries' by the state's Anti-Corruption Bureau(ACB) in
connection with alleged corruption charges.
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Chief
Minister Devendra Fadnavis gave the go-ahead to the ACB for the probe
against Pawar and state NCP president Sunil Tatkare in connection with
alleged corruption and irregularities in execution of various irrigation
projects during their tenure as Water Resource Ministers.
The Chief Minister also gave his approval to ACB's proposal to conduct
an open inquiry into allegations of corruption and favouritism against
former Public Works Department(PWD) Minister Chhagan Bhujbal in
construction of Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi and two other government
buildings in Mumbai built under Private Public Partnership.
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Kerry calls Sharif to express condolence on Peshawar attack
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 Updated on : 17-12-2014 08:43 AM
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US Secretary of State John Kerry called the Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif on
Tuesday to express "deepest condolences" on the horrific school attack
in Peshawar where 141 children were massacred.
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On Tuesday night, Kerry spoke with the Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif to
express the deepest condolences of the United States to the people of
Pakistan after the tragic terrorist attack in Peshawar.
“Reaffirming our solidarity and support for Pakistan in the struggle
against extremism, particularly at this difficult time of mourning for
the Pakistani people" State Department Deputy-Spokesperson Marie Harf
said.
Kerry is expected to travel to Pakistan in January for the US-Pak Strategic Dialogue.
"Broadly speaking, the message we convey to both Afghanistan and
Pakistan is that there's no place they should not have safe havens for
any of these terrorist organisations in their countries" State
Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki said.
There can be no justification religious or otherwise for the killing of innocent school children.
The Human Rights Watch said “the attack is of incomprehensible horror
and brutality, even for a group that has already shown well-documented
contempt for the lives of civilians.”
In its war against the Pakistani government, the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban
Pakistan) has frequently violated international humanitarian law, which
forbids armed forces of any kind from subjecting civilians to
deliberate, indiscriminate, or disproportionate attacks.
This senseless and bloodthirsty attack on children must be condemned by
people of all faiths and backgrounds anywhere in the world.
(MM – 17/12)
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German Chancellor calls for unity against anti-Islam forces
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 Updated on : 16-12-2014 04:22 PM
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Alarmed by the growing popularity of an anti-Islam movement in Germany,
Chancellor Angela Merkel and other government leaders have appealed to
the public to stay away from it and not to "become tools" in the hands
of the organisers of such events.
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"There is freedom of demonstration in Germany, but there is no place
for spreading hatred and slander against people who come to us from
other countries," Merkel said at a news conference in Berlin on Monday.
Therefore, everyone should be careful not to become tools in the hands of the organisers of such events, she said.
More than 10,000 people had demonstrated in eastern Germany against
"criminal asylum seekers" and the "Islamisation" of the country, in the
latest show of strength of a growing far-right populist movement on
Monday.
Organised by a right-wing group called 'Patriotic Europeans Against
Islamisation of the West Pegida', the movement began in the eastern
German city of Dresden in September by staging demonstrations every
Monday to protest against the government.
The government has estimated that around 95,000 people have been granted
asylum during the first half of this year and their number for the
whole year could exceed 200,000.
More than one-fifth of the refugees are from the conflict zone.
Several state governments and municipalities say they are stretched to
the limit to provide accommodation and financial support to the
refugees.
Chancellor Merkel said her government is working on a plan to solve the
problems in providing shelter for the refugees and in supporting them.
Justice Minister Heiko Maas spoke of the Pegida movement as a "disgrace" for Germany.
He expressed fears that the anti-Islam protest movement could lead to a
"new escalation of the agitation against migrants and refugees" in a
media interview.
"Among the demonstrators, there are people with a clear affinity to
hatred against foreigners. This is disgusting and despicable," Maas
said.
Deputy chancellor and Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel accused Pegida of
attempting to drive up hatred against foreigners and working closely
with neo-Nazis.
The organisation is misinterpreting facts to create fear among the public, he said.
The organisers of the protests, however, claim that their movement is
similar to the 'we are the people' demonstrations in Dresden which led
to fall of Berlin Wall and collapse of the communist regime in former
East Germany 25 years ago.
The anti-Islam movement has also been spreading rapidly to some major
cities in western Germany such as Dusseldorf, Cologne and Bonn.
Their demands included tightening of the governments asylum policy and expulsion of migrants involved in crime.
Since the beginning of this year, Germany has been experiencing an
influx of refugees, especially those fleeing the fighting in Syria and
in Iraq.
(AKS-16/12)
Govt comes to rescue of Spicejet, may ask banks to give loans
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 Updated on : 16-12-2014 09:41 PM
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Coming
to the rescue of the crisis-ridden budget airline SpiceJet, the Civil
Aviation Ministry on Tuesday said it may request Indian banks/financial
institutions to extended loans of upto Rs 600 crore to the airline as
part of measures to keep the carrier functional.
|
Besides,
it will also request the Finance Ministry to permit external commercial
borrowing (ECB) for working capital as special dispensation, a Ministry
release said.
These and many more suggestions, have been approved by Civil Aviation
Minister Ashok Gajapathy Raju after due consideration as a shut down
would have been a major setback to the aviation sector, it said.
The measures, however, comes with a rider that the beleagured airline will commit capital infusion at the earliest.
The steps came a day after SpiceJet's Chief Operating Officer Sanjiv
Kapoor, along with Sun Group CFO S L Narayanan, met Raju and DGCA
Prabhat Kumar and sought the government's help to overcome the crisis.
"Indian banks may be requested to give some working capital loan based
on the assurances of the promoter. Banks or financial institutions to
lend up to Rs 600 crore backed by a personal guarantee of the Chairman,
SpiceJet," the release said.
This should be paid immediately after securing the long- term investment
which will take around eight weeks to consummate, it said.
In addition, the Ministry of Finance will be requested to permit ECB for
working capital as special dispensation as was done in the 2012 to help
the airline wriggle out of the financial morass.
At the same time, the airline, with total liabilities standing at Rs
2,000 crore, including dues to the public sector oil firms and the
Airports Authority of India (AAI), may get credit facility for upto 15
days from the oil firms and AAI, the government said.
@BJ-16.12
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Child labour should go into pages of history: Satyarthi
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 Updated on : 14-12-2014 05:30 PM
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Satyarthi, who returned to India on Sunday, pitched for the passage of
the pending legislation against child labour, saying that history "won't
forgive" the legislators if the Bill does not get passed.
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Making an emphatic appeal to "globalise compassion" and turn it into a
"mass movement", 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi on
Sunday said that he wants child labour to go into the "pages of
history".
Let us globalise compassion," the Nobel laureate added. The Child Labour
(Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment (CLPRA) Bill which, once passed,
will prohibit employment of children below 14 years in any occupation,
bringing the law in consistency with the Right to Children to Free and
Compulsory Education Act 2009.
Satyarthi, who jointly received the award along with Pakistani teenage
education activist Malala Yousufzai, said that "sustainable peace"
between India and Pakistan could only result from more mutual
cooperation.
"I am not a politician but as far as I understand more people to people
contact, mutual cooperation is required for any kind of sustainable
peace between the two countries," he said.
Satyarthi's image of comforting Malala, when she broke down after seeing
her blood-splattered clothes she was wearing the day she was attacked
by the Taliban, at an exhibition in Oslo, was splashed by the media
across the world.
Expressing his gratitude to India's "vibrant democracy and the
judiciary", Satyarthi said that change was "knocking at the door" which
needs to be acted upon.
Satyarthi said that the award has increased the weight of "moral
responsibility" on his shoulders and that his job wouldn't be complete
till the day a "single child is enslaved".
Satyarthi's NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save Childhood Movement) prides
itself on liberating over 80,000 children from bonded labour in
factories and workshops across India.
Awarding the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize on Satyarthi and Malala
Yousafzai, the Nobel Committee said that "Satyarthi and Yousafzai are
precisely the people whom Alfred Nobel in his will calls 'champions of
peace'".
(MC-14.12)
Hi today is 18 December 2014
and on the DD news.
Indian-American Amit Priyavadan Mehta confirmed as a Federal judge by the US Senate
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 Updated on : 17-12-2014 11:26 AM
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Indian-American Amit Priyavadan Mehta has been confirmed by the US
Senate as a Federal judge in the District of Columbia, becoming the
first Asian Pacific American to occupy this vital position.
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Nominated by the US President, Barack Obama in July this year,
Mehta has been a partner at Zuckerman Spaeder since 2010, where he
represents clients in civil and criminal matters before the State and
Federal courts.
Mehta’s nomination was cleared late on Tuesday night by a voice vote along with over a dozen pending judicial nominations.
Mehta was born in India and moved to the US along his family at the age of one.
Mehta is a graduate of Georgetown University, magna cum laude and Phi
Beta Kappa, and the University of Virginia School of Law, Order of the
Coif.
Mehta then clerked for Judge Susan Graber, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
After clerking, Mehta worked at Zuckerman Spaeder as an associate for
three years, and then worked for the Public Defender Service for the
District of Columbia for five years.
He represented indigent criminal defendants in trials, appeals and administrative proceedings.
Mehta later rejoined Zuckerman Spaeder, where he had represented
companies and individuals in a broad range of federal criminal matters,
including bribery, political corruption, mail and wire fraud, export
control and sanctions violations and environmental crimes.
Mehta has also represented the plaintiffs and defendants in federal
civil matters, including antitrust and a Securities and Exchange
Commission enforcement action.
In a pro bono capacity, he has devoted more than 450 hours since 2010 to
post-conviction proceedings for an individual convicted of murder.
Mehta is also the Vice President of the board of directors of the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project.
(MM – 17/12)
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'Clean India, Green India' theme of new Govt calendar
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 Updated on : 17-12-2014 08:24 PM
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'Clean India, Green India' is the theme of the new Government of India
calendar 2015 which focuses on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's
initiative, the Swachh Bharat Mission.
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For the first time ever, a digital version of the calendar was also launched today in the form of a mobile phone app.
PM Modi features on the first page of the calendar for the month of January wielding a broom to clean a roadside.
I & B Minister Arun Jaitley released the calendar by saying that two
of government's key programmes had converged in the initiative to
launch the app version.
"The convergence of two mainstream programmes of the government is reflected in this calendar.
First is a social programme ‘Swachh Bharat’ and that is why it is reflected in the visuals of this calendar.
The second programme is ‘Digital India’ which is a developmental
programme. And the convergence is there, as the same calendar will be
available in a digital form as well" Jaitley said.
Jaitley, who is also the Finance Minister said that no one can defy
technology and it should be used for the benefit of people and
congratulated the Department of Audio Visual Publicity (DAVP) for having
brought out a mobile app.
“Apart from having the information that the conventional calendar
contains, the mobile phone app would also have links that would keep
users aware of latest government initiatives including that of PIB
website, PMO tweets and I & B Ministry's youtube channel” officials
said on Wednesday.
Along with the visual of Modi wielding a broom, the calendar for the
month of January also carries a quote from the Prime Minister.
"Wherever we see filth or see someone throwing garbage why don't we feel
like picking that up? I know this will not be accomplished only by
publicity campaign. Old habits take time to change. It's a difficult
task. But we have time till 2019 when we shall be observing the 150th
birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi." the quote says.
(MM – 17/12)
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Only small number of Indian youth join ISIS: Govt
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 Updated on : 17-12-2014 04:27 PM
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Attracted by information being disseminated in the cyber space, a small
number of Indian youth have left the country to join ISIS, Rajya Sabha
was informed on Wednesday.
|
In reply to a question, Minister of State for Home Haribhai
Parathibhai Chaudhary said it is seen that the attraction of youth
towards ISIS is mainly on account of information being disseminated in
the cyber space.
Chaudhary said the government is closely
monitoring the situation and has directed the intelligence agencies to
identify such elements and keep a watch on their activities.
"The cyber-space is also being closely scanned in this regard. The
National Investigation Agency has also registered a criminal case for
investigating the entire gamut of Indian youth joining the ISIS and has
arrested one person in this regard till now," he said.
Arif Majeed, the youth from Mumbai suburb Kalyan, was arrested after his return from the Islamic State.
However, three of his friends, who went along with him to join ISIS, are yet to return.
Mehdi
Mehboob Biswas, a Bangalore-based executive of ITC foods was arrested
last week, for allegedly running a Twitter account supporting the ISIS.
Replying
to another question, the Minister said there is no report of any
attempt by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan to set up bases in India.
He
said Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan - Jamaatul Ahrar had claimed
responsibility for suicide attack on the Pakistani side of the Wagah
border on November 2, 2014.
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan is
believed to be involved in the killing of 141 people, mostly children,
in horrendous terror attack at a school in Pakistan's Peshawar city on
Tuesday.
Chaudhary said the terror organisation and its all
other factions are considered to be hostile to Indian interests and
believed to maintain links with al Qaida and AQIS.
Some Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan commanders have also declared allegiance to the Amir of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi.
Replying
to another question, the Minister said, various arrested terrorists
told investigating agencies that Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence
(ISI) is promoting terror activities in India by providing shelter,
patronage and funding to terrorists of all hues.
Chaudhary said a
video was uploaded on September 3, 2014 containing the speech of
Al-Zawahiri of al Qaida in which he had announced the establishment of a
new wing of the outfit called 'al Qaida in Indian sub-continent'.
It is learnt that Asim Umar and Usama Mehmood have been appointed as
the 'Amir' and spokesperson respectively of AQIS, he said.
(AKs-17/12)
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Taliban attackers shot most Peshawar students in head
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 Updated on : 17-12-2014 03:49 PM
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Most of the students at the Army- run school in Peshawar were shot in
the head from point blank range by the ruthless Taliban attackers, in
one of the most gruesome attacks against children in recent years.
|
At least 132 students and nine staffers were killed when the
attackers wearing para-military uniforms stormed the Army Public School
in Peshawar and started indiscriminate firing on Tuesday.
Quoting students, a Pakistani newspaper reported that the attackers
scaled the boundary wall from the adjacent graveyard and started firing
while moving towards the classrooms and the auditorium.
"Most of the students have received bullets in the head" Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani said.
Besides the parents and relatives, the people visiting the hospitals
were also seen mourning on seeing the bodies and injured students in
their blood-stained school uniform.
"I saw 17 bodies at the combined military hospital and all of them had
received bullets in the head" said an eyewitness. He added that some of
the bodies were mutilated.
A student of grade-7 told a Pakistani newspaper that he and many others
were getting first aid training in the school hall when they heard the
gunfire.
"Our trainer told us to lie down on the floor" the student said, adding that in the meantime the terrorists entered the hall.
The student described that the terrorists started shooting other students in their heads at a close range.
"They killed our class-fellows and then left us in the main hall. I received a bullet in my foot" the student said.
Another injured student said that terrorists were firing on the students in classrooms.
"They also killed one of our teachers" he said.
(MM - 17/12)
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EU, US confirm new Iran nuclear talks on 17 Dec
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Updated on : 13-12-2014 07:26 PM
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The
EU and the US on Friday confirmed that extended nuclear talks between
with Iran will resume on 17th December in Geneva after they failed to
reach a deal with Tehran last month.
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The talks, first announced in a report from Iran on Thursday, will be at
the level of senior policy officials rather than foreign ministers, the
European Union's diplomatic service said.
"The political directors of the (world powers) and Iran will meet again
on 17 December 2014 in Geneva for a one-day meeting to continue
diplomatic efforts towards reaching a long-term, comprehensive
solution," it said in a statement on Friday.
Washington confirmed that acting Deputy Secretary for State Wendy
Sherman would first hold bilateral talks with the Iranian delegation in
the Swiss city on Monday and Tuesday.
"These bilateral consultations will take place in the context of the
P5+1 nuclear negotiations with Iran, led by EU special advisor Cathy
Ashton," the State Department said in a statement.
The P5+1 group comprises the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany.
The US-Iran bilateral talks would be joined for part of the meeting by the EU's Helga Schmid, it added.
It will be the first time the sides have met since failing to meet a
24th November deadline for a full deal with Iran on reining in its
nuclear programme in exchange for an easing of crippling international
sanctions.
The global powers and Iran agreed to give themselves until 30th June to
strike a deal, although they hope to have the broad outlines hammered
out by March.
The EU's external affairs arm said the P5+1 talks in Geneva next week would be technical, not political.
Accordingly, Ashton, who chaired the talks previously and now serves as
special Iran adviser to her successor Federica Mogherini, will not
attend the talks, a spokeswoman said.
Mogherini announced Friday that Ashton would continue to lead the negotiations with Iran so as to ensure continuity.
A final agreement is aimed at ensuring Tehran will never develop nuclear weapons under the guise of its civilian activities.
Iran denies that it is seeking the bomb and insists its nuclear activities are for solely peaceful purposes.
(DD-13.12)
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Ban on ‘Gutka’ has positive impact: WHO
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 Updated on : 17-12-2014 01:17 PM
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Stringent state-level laws banning gutka have a positive impact as
reduced product availability has resulted in decreased consumption of
gutka, according to World Health Organisation (WHO).
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In a study conducted by the WHO in seven states comprising of
Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha
along with the National Capital Region (NCR), 92 per cent respondents
supported ban on sale of gutka, while a whopping 99 per cent said the
ban was good for the health of Indian youth.
"These findings have a strong message that regulatory mechanisms are
effective and can have a positive impact on the consumption pattern. The
ban did impact use.
Of the respondents who continue to use pre-packaged gutka, 49 per cent reported they consume less since the ban.
There was high degree of unanimity among respondents (90 per cent) that
the government should ban the manufacturing, sale and distribution of
other forms of smokeless tobacco" WHO Representative to India Dr Nata
Menabde said.
However, sharing the peril of use of tobacco with other ingredients like
pan masala etc, Director, Research and Strategic Planning at the Johns
Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Communications
Programs, Dr Pradeep Krishnatray said most of the respondents consumed
tobacco by mixing it with a packet of pan masala with zarda.
"This innovation has adversely affected the very purpose and consequent impact of the ban" Krishnatray added.
The study has found that interest in quitting the gutka is high as
approximately half of respondents reported attempting to quit gutka in
last one year.
(MM – 17/12)
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Poor sanitation killing mothers and newborns: study
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 Updated on : 14-12-2014 06:40 PM
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Lack of safe water, sanitation and hygiene in birth settings is
killing mothers and newborns in the developing world, a new study has
warned.
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In a flagship paper, 16 researchers from various organisations,
including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations
Children`s Fund (UNICEF), call to protect the lives of new mothers and
their babies, by improving access to safe water, basic sanitation and
hygiene in health-care facilities and homes.
The paper published in PLOS Medicine argues that despite improvements in
health care, new mothers and newborns are still dying because a
reliable supply of safe water, good hygiene practice and adequate
toilets are often not present.
A companion paper in PLOS ONE illustrates the situation in Tanzania,
where less than a third (30.5 per cent) of births occur in places with
safe water and basic sanitation.
In 2013, one in 44 women in the country died due to child birth. Women
face a similar level of risk in many developing countries.
Globally, an estimated 289,000 women died from complications related to
pregnancy or childbirth in 2013, a number which researchers say can be
more rapidly reduced through better provision and monitoring of safe
water, basic sanitation and hygiene to prevent infection and improve
care.
Some 38 per cent of health-care facilities in 54 low-income countries
are without an improved water source, according to a forthcoming survey
leaving doctors, nurses and mid-wives are struggling to care for their
patients. "Nearly 8,000 women in Tanzania die each year immediately
after childbirth.
Sepsis from infection causes at least 10 per cent of these deaths,"
Lenka Benova of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, lead
author of the companion paper on Tanzania, said. "Nearly half of women,
and disproportionately the country's poorest, are giving birth at home,
and almost none of these homes have clean water and basic
sanitation,said Benova.
What is frustrating is we know infections leading to death are
preventable, with the addition of clean water, basic toilets and good
hygiene practice.
"Our hope is these findings will guide future work on UN development
goals and make the provision of these services a priority, when trying
to improve the health of new mothers and their babies," Benova added.
We have known since Victorian times about the importance of clean water
and good hygiene in birth. Yet today thousands of mothers will be giving
birth in places where doctors and mid-wives do not have access to clean
water. The process of giving life should not mean risking death,Yael
Velleman, senior policy analyst, sanitation and health, at WaterAid,
said.
(DPT- 14.12)
Hi Good morning this is ================================================
PM to inaugurate Pravasi Bhartiya Divas on Jan 8
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 Updated on : 18-12-2014 09:32 AM
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar on January 8.
|
"On
the morning of January 8, the Prime Minister will first inaugurate the
'Salt Mound' structure near Mahatma Mandir before officially
inaugurating the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.
He will be accompanied by MoS for External Affairs, General
(retd) V K Singh and many dignitaries," state Finance Minister Saurabh
Patel told reporters.
The day is held to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of the country.
Patel said Modi is expected to hold one-to-one interactions with
various dignitaries including chief ministers of different states,
after delivering the inaugural address.
"At present, we expect that at least 15 CMs will be here to take
part in this event. The prime minister will also take a round of the
special exhibition organised at Mahatma Mandir," said Patel.
The exhibition will have stalls and display pavilions of various
states, besides of schemes launched by the prime minister recently like
the Skills India, Swachh Bharat, Ganga Rejuvenation, Smart Cities,
Digital India, etc. added Patel.
"The Prime Minister will be here for just one day, as he is
expected to leave during the evening on the same day. We expect that at
least 5000 visitors, including NRIs will take part in the event, which
will conclude on January 9," the minister added.
@BJ-17.12
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Obama announces steps to normalise US ties with Cuba
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 Updated on : 18-12-2014 01:48 PM
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In a historic decision, President Barack Obama on Wednesday announced a
series of steps aimed at normalising relations with communist-ruled Cuba
with which the US had severed diplomatic ties decades ago imposing a
series of sanctions on its island neighbour.
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The steps being taken include instructions to re-establish the US
Embassy in Cuban capital Havana, relaxing of trade and travel
restrictions and review of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.
"We will end an outdated approach that for decades has failed to advance
our interests. And instead we will begin to normalise relations between
our two countries.
Through these changes, we intend to create more opportunities for the
American and Cuban people and begin a new chapter among the nations of
the Americas" Obama said in a television address to the country.
"Though this policy has been rooted in the best of intentions, no other
nation joins us in imposing these sanctions and it has had little effect
beyond providing the Cuban government with a rationale for restrictions
on its people" he said.
"Today Cuba is still governed by the Castros and the Communist Party that came to power half a century ago.
Neither the American nor Cuban people are well served by a rigid policy
that's rooted in events that took place before most of us were born" he
added.
"Consider that for more than 35 years, we've had relations with China, a far larger country also governed by a communist party.
Nearly two decades ago, we reestablished relations with Vietnam, where
we fought a war that claimed more Americans than any Cold War
confrontation" said the US president as he explained to the American
people his decision to change US policy on Cuba.
The announcement came as two American citizens, one of them a spy, was released by Cuba in a prisoner swap.
"All, these 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked. It's time for a new approach.
I've instructed Secretary Kerry to review Cuba's designation as a state
sponsor of terrorism. This review will be guided by the facts and the
law" he said.
(MM – 18/12)
26/11 trial: LeT operations commander Lakhvi gets bail in Pakistan
|
|
 Updated on : 19-12-2014 02:17 AM
|
|
In a decision that caused outrage in India, a Pakistani court on
Thursday gave bail to LeT operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, a
key planner of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, just a day after Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif said there is no 'good' and 'bad' Taliban.
|
"Anti-Terrorism Court Islamabad Judge Kausar Abbas Zaidi granted
bail to Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi," prosecution chief Chaudhry Azhar told a
news agency.
54-year-old Lakhvi and six others had filed bail
applications on Wednesday in the midst of a lawyers strike to condemn
the Peshawar school massacre that left 148 people, mostly children,
dead.
Azhar said the prosecution had to produce more witnesses before this decision had come which they were not expecting.
"We were not expecting this decision as we have to produce a good
number of witnesses in the case. We are awaiting the court's detailed
order before giving further comment on the decision," he said.
Lakhvi's counsel advocate Raja Rizwan Abbasi told a news agency that the
court had granted bail as "evidence against Lakhvi was deficient".
The
decision triggered quite an uproar in Indian political parties across
the board as they accused Pakistan of sheltering terrorists.
It also came under attack from the prosecutor in the Ajmal Kasab case, Ujwal Nikam.
The Indian mission in Islamabad is also preparing a strong response against the grant of bail to Lakhvi.
Abbasi said the defence would soon file bail applications of the other six accused.
The in-camera hearing of the case was held at Adiala Jail Rawalpindi due to security concerns.
The judge adjourned the hearing till January 7.
The
seven accused - Lakhvi, Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq,
Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum - are facing trial at
the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. His release from jail comes a day after
Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif pledged to announce a "national plan" to
tackle terrorism within a week, saying "this entire region" should be
cleaned of terrorism.
"We announce that there will be no differentiation between 'good' and
'bad' Taliban and have resolved to continue the war against terrorism
till the last terrorist is eliminated," Sharif had said after an all
party meeting to discuss counter terrorism measures in the wake of the
Peshawar massacre.
The trial of the seven suspects has progressed at a snail's pace due to repeated adjournments and various technical delays.
Lakhvi, the operational head of the banned Laskhar-e- Taiba, was one of
the key planners of the Mumbai attack that killed 166 people.
Nine of the terrorists involved in the attack were killed by Indian security forces.
The
only surviving attacker, Ajmal Kasab, was hanged after conviction by a
trial court that was confirmed and upheld by higher courts in India.
In February 2009 Rehman Malik, the then adviser to the prime minister
on the interior, had announced that Lakhvi was in custody and under
investigation as the foremost mastermind behind the Mumbai attacks.
In
November the same year, the anti-terrorism court formally charged seven
suspects, including Lakhvi, with planning and helping execute the
Mumbai attacks.
RBY@18/12
Pak should hand over Hafiz, Dawood to India: Naidu
|
|
 Updated on : 18-12-2014 01:44 PM
|
|
India
on Thursday asked Pakistan to hand over Mumbai terror attack accused
Hafiz Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim, who also figures in the country's most
wanted list, to it if the neighbouring country is serious about fighting
terrorism.
|
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif should seize the opportunity in the wake of terror attack on
Peshawar school and take bold steps to combat terrorism.
"If Pakistan is serious in fighting terrorism, it should arrest Hafiz
Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim and hand them over to India... I hope Nawaz
Sharif will seize this opportunity to take bold steps against
terrorism," he told reporters outside Parliament on Thursday.
Saeed is the "chief promoter" of terrorism in the world, Naidu said, calling him "an enemy of humanity".
(DD-18.12)
|
|
 Updated on : 18-12-2014 04:52 PM
|
|
Taking
its baby steps towards realising India's ambition to send humans into
space, ISRO on Thursday successfully tested the atmospheric re-entry of a
crew module after its heaviest launch vehicle GSLV Mk-III blasted off
from Sriharikota.
|
Exactly 5.4 minutes after liftoff at 9.30 AM from the Second Launch Pad
of Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the module separated from
the rocket at an altitude of 126 km and re-entered Earth's atmosphere
(about 80 km from sea level).
|
|
Updated on : 18-12-2014 04:52 PM
|
|
Taking
its baby steps towards realising India's ambition to send humans into
space, ISRO on Thursday successfully tested the atmospheric re-entry of a
crew module after its heaviest launch vehicle GSLV Mk-III blasted off
from Sriharikota.
|
Exactly 5.4 minutes after liftoff at 9.30 AM from the Second Launch Pad
of Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the module separated from
the rocket at an altitude of 126 km and re-entered Earth's atmosphere
(about 80 km from sea level).
|
|
Updated on : 18-12-2014 04:52 PM
|
|
Taking
its baby steps towards realising India's ambition to send humans into
space, ISRO on Thursday successfully tested the atmospheric re-entry of a
crew module after its heaviest launch vehicle GSLV Mk-III blasted off
from Sriharikota.
|
Exactly 5.4 minutes after liftoff at 9.30 AM from the Second Launch Pad
of Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the module separated from
the rocket at an altitude of 126 km and re-entered Earth's atmosphere
(about 80 km from sea level).
|
|
Updated on : 18-12-2014 04:52 PM
|
|
Taking
its baby steps towards realising India's ambition to send humans into
space, ISRO on Thursday successfully tested the atmospheric re-entry of a
crew module after its heaviest launch vehicle GSLV Mk-III blasted off
from Sriharikota.
|
Exactly 5.4 minutes after liftoff at 9.30 AM from the Second Launch Pad
of Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the module separated from
the rocket at an altitude of 126 km and re-entered Earth's atmosphere
(about 80 km from sea level).
|
Pak should hand over Hafiz, Dawood to India: Naidu
|
|
Updated on : 18-12-2014 01:44 PM
|
|
India
on Thursday asked Pakistan to hand over Mumbai terror attack accused
Hafiz Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim, who also figures in the country's most
wanted list, to it if the neighbouring country is serious about fighting
terrorism.
|
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif should seize the opportunity in the wake of terror attack on
Peshawar school and take bold steps to combat terrorism.
"If Pakistan is serious in fighting terrorism, it should arrest Hafiz
Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim and hand them over to India... I hope Nawaz
Sharif will seize this opportunity to take bold steps against
terrorism," he told reporters outside Parliament on Thursday.
Saeed is the "chief promoter" of terrorism in the world, Naidu said, calling him "an enemy of humanity".
(DD-18.12)
|
Pak should hand over Hafiz, Dawood to India: Naidu
|
|
Updated on : 18-12-2014 01:44 PM
|
|
India
on Thursday asked Pakistan to hand over Mumbai terror attack accused
Hafiz Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim, who also figures in the country's most
wanted list, to it if the neighbouring country is serious about fighting
terrorism.
|
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif should seize the opportunity in the wake of terror attack on
Peshawar school and take bold steps to combat terrorism.
"If Pakistan is serious in fighting terrorism, it should arrest Hafiz
Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim and hand them over to India... I hope Nawaz
Sharif will seize this opportunity to take bold steps against
terrorism," he told reporters outside Parliament on Thursday.
Saeed is the "chief promoter" of terrorism in the world, Naidu said, calling him "an enemy of humanity".
(DD-18.12)
|
Pak should hand over Hafiz, Dawood to India: Naidu
|
|
Updated on : 18-12-2014 01:44 PM
|
|
India
on Thursday asked Pakistan to hand over Mumbai terror attack accused
Hafiz Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim, who also figures in the country's most
wanted list, to it if the neighbouring country is serious about fighting
terrorism.
|
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif should seize the opportunity in the wake of terror attack on
Peshawar school and take bold steps to combat terrorism.
"If Pakistan is serious in fighting terrorism, it should arrest Hafiz
Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim and hand them over to India... I hope Nawaz
Sharif will seize this opportunity to take bold steps against
terrorism," he told reporters outside Parliament on Thursday.
Saeed is the "chief promoter" of terrorism in the world, Naidu said, calling him "an enemy of humanity".
(DD-18.12)
|
India exports first warship to Mauritius
|
|
 Updated on : 21-12-2014 09:59 AM
|
|
By delivering an offshore patrol vessel to Mauritius, India on Saturday exported its first warship.
|
"This is the first time that the export barrier has been breached.
This would be the first among the long line of ships that we hope to
export to various parts of the world," Minister of State for Defence Rao
Inderjit Singh said during the warship handing over ceremony.
Built by defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited
(GRSE) in Kolkata, the USD 58.5 million 'CGS Barracuda' measures 74.10 m
in length. It is capable of moving at a maximum speed of 22 knots with
an approximate displacement of 1350 tonnes.
Describing it as a
red-letter day in the history of ship-building in India, Singh said it
proves that the industry has come of age. When asked, he said the Goa
shipyard has also got orders from Sri Lanka for making offshore patrol
vessels.
GRSE's Chairman and Managing Director Rear Admiral A K
Verma said they were getting enquires for building similar ships for
other friendly nations.
They have so far made 92 warships for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.
"After our modernisation we have increased our capacity to meet the
requirements of our defence forces without overrun in time and cost,"
Verma said.
RBY@21/12
|
By delivering an offshore patrol vessel to Mauritius, India on Saturday exported its first warship.
India exports first warship to Mauritius
|
|
Updated on : 21-12-2014 09:59 AM
|
|
By delivering an offshore patrol vessel to Mauritius, India on Saturday exported its first warship.
|
India exports first warship to Mauritius
|
|
Updated on : 21-12-2014 09:59 AM
|
|
By delivering an offshore patrol vessel to Mauritius, India on Saturday exported its first warship.
|
"This is the first time that the export barrier has been breached.
This would be the first among the long line of ships that we hope to
export to various parts of the world," Minister of State for Defence Rao
Inderjit Singh said during the warship handing over ceremony.
Built by defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited
(GRSE) in Kolkata, the USD 58.5 million 'CGS Barracuda' measures 74.10 m
in length. It is capable of moving at a maximum speed of 22 knots with
an approximate displacement of 1350 tonnes.
Describing it as a
red-letter day in the history of ship-building in India, Singh said it
proves that the industry has come of age. When asked, he said the Goa
shipyard has also got orders from Sri Lanka for making offshore patrol
vessels.
GRSE's Chairman and Managing Director Rear Admiral A K
Verma said they were getting enquires for building similar ships for
other friendly nations.
They have so far made 92 warships for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.
"After our modernisation we have increased our capacity to meet the
requirements of our defence forces without overrun in time and cost,"
Verma said.
India's ties with S-E Asia gained momentum in 2014
|
|
|
 Updated on : 24-12-2014 01:09 AM
|
|
The
year 2014 was filled with dramatic natural as well as manmade disaster,
especially for South East Asian countries, considering the major mishap
of the airlines and internal issues of the global level.
|
Consequently, the new government of BJP thrived to unite and strengthen
ties with neighboring countries of South East Asia inorder to boost
economic relations and expands its global role.
2014 turned out to be a turbulent one for South East Asia with two plane
tragedies and a coup hitting global headlines, even as India's ties
with the key region gained momentum with the new Indian government
turning the 'Look East' policy into an 'Act East' strategy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the East Asia Summit in Myanmar in
November to stress India's seriousness to advance India-ASEAN economic
relations, signalling a more action- oriented policy towards South East
Asia to boost economy and expand the country's global role.
“A new era of economic development, industrialisation and trade has
begun in India. Externally, India's 'Look East Policy' has become 'Act
East Policy'," Modi had said at the ASEAN-India Summit.
He highlighted specific recommendations to advance ASEAN- India economic
relations over the next few years, including establishing a special
purpose vehicle for project financing, building information highways,
and inviting ASEAN countries to participate in Indias ongoing economic
transformation.
Modi held productive meetings with individual Southeast Asian states,
including Singapore and Myanmar -- the only ASEAN country India shares a
land border with.
Modi and Burmese President Thein Sein both reviewed key ongoing joint
infrastructure projects such as the India- Myanmar-Thailand trilateral
highway and the Kaladan project.
During External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's visit to Myanmar to
India-ASEAN meeting, India said it would soon draft a five-year action
plan starting 2016 for enhancing connectivity and cooperation in diverse
areas.
But the year was not as good for the region as it saw two heart wrenching tragedies in the airline industry's history.
Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 with 239 people, including five Indians
aboard, disappeared mysteriously over the Indian Ocean en route to
Beijing, China.
After 131 days, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 17 was shot down over Ukraine on July 17, killing all 298 people aboard.
(MC 23.12)
|
India's ties with S-E Asia gained momentum in 2014
|
|
|
Updated on : 24-12-2014 01:09 AM
|
|
The
year 2014 was filled with dramatic natural as well as manmade disaster,
especially for South East Asian countries, considering the major mishap
of the airlines and internal issues of the global level.
|
Consequently, the new government of BJP thrived to unite and strengthen
ties with neighboring countries of South East Asia inorder to boost
economic relations and expands its global role.
2014 turned out to be a turbulent one for South East Asia with two plane
tragedies and a coup hitting global headlines, even as India's ties
with the key region gained momentum with the new Indian government
turning the 'Look East' policy into an 'Act East' strategy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the East Asia Summit in Myanmar in
November to stress India's seriousness to advance India-ASEAN economic
relations, signalling a more action- oriented policy towards South East
Asia to boost economy and expand the country's global role.
“A new era of economic development, industrialisation and trade has
begun in India. Externally, India's 'Look East Policy' has become 'Act
East Policy'," Modi had said at the ASEAN-India Summit.
He highlighted specific recommendations to advance ASEAN- India economic
relations over the next few years, including establishing a special
purpose vehicle for project financing, building information highways,
and inviting ASEAN countries to participate in Indias ongoing economic
transformation.
Modi held productive meetings with individual Southeast Asian states,
including Singapore and Myanmar -- the only ASEAN country India shares a
land border with.
Modi and Burmese President Thein Sein both reviewed key ongoing joint
infrastructure projects such as the India- Myanmar-Thailand trilateral
highway and the Kaladan project.
During External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's visit to Myanmar to
India-ASEAN meeting, India said it would soon draft a five-year action
plan starting 2016 for enhancing connectivity and cooperation in diverse
areas.
But the year was not as good for the region as it saw two heart wrenching tragedies in the airline industry's history.
Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 with 239 people, including five Indians
aboard, disappeared mysteriously over the Indian Ocean en route to
Beijing, China.
After 131 days, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 17 was shot down over Ukraine on July 17, killing all 298 people aboard.
(MC 23.12)
|
India's ties with S-E Asia gained momentum in 2014
|
|
|
Updated on : 24-12-2014 01:09 AM
|
|
The
year 2014 was filled with dramatic natural as well as manmade disaster,
especially for South East Asian countries, considering the major mishap
of the airlines and internal issues of the global level.
|
Consequently, the new government of BJP thrived to unite and strengthen
ties with neighboring countries of South East Asia inorder to boost
economic relations and expands its global role.
2014 turned out to be a turbulent one for South East Asia with two plane
tragedies and a coup hitting global headlines, even as India's ties
with the key region gained momentum with the new Indian government
turning the 'Look East' policy into an 'Act East' strategy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the East Asia Summit in Myanmar in
November to stress India's seriousness to advance India-ASEAN economic
relations, signalling a more action- oriented policy towards South East
Asia to boost economy and expand the country's global role.
“A new era of economic development, industrialisation and trade has
begun in India. Externally, India's 'Look East Policy' has become 'Act
East Policy'," Modi had said at the ASEAN-India Summit.
He highlighted specific recommendations to advance ASEAN- India economic
relations over the next few years, including establishing a special
purpose vehicle for project financing, building information highways,
and inviting ASEAN countries to participate in Indias ongoing economic
transformation.
Modi held productive meetings with individual Southeast Asian states,
including Singapore and Myanmar -- the only ASEAN country India shares a
land border with.
Modi and Burmese President Thein Sein both reviewed key ongoing joint
infrastructure projects such as the India- Myanmar-Thailand trilateral
highway and the Kaladan project.
During External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's visit to Myanmar to
India-ASEAN meeting, India said it would soon draft a five-year action
plan starting 2016 for enhancing connectivity and cooperation in diverse
areas.
But the year was not as good for the region as it saw two heart wrenching tragedies in the airline industry's history.
Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 with 239 people, including five Indians
aboard, disappeared mysteriously over the Indian Ocean en route to
Beijing, China.
After 131 days, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 17 was shot down over Ukraine on July 17, killing all 298 people aboard.
(MC 23.12)
|
India exports first warship to Mauritius
|
|
Updated on : 21-12-2014 09:59 AM
|
|
By delivering an offshore patrol vessel to Mauritius, India on Saturday exported its first warship.
|
Pak should hand over Hafiz, Dawood to India: Naidu
|
|
Updated on : 18-12-2014 01:44 PM
|
|
India
on Thursday asked Pakistan to hand over Mumbai terror attack accused
Hafiz Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim, who also figures in the country's most
wanted list, to it if the neighbouring country is serious about fighting
terrorism.
|
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif should seize the opportunity in the wake of terror attack on
Peshawar school and take bold steps to combat terrorism.
"If Pakistan is serious in fighting terrorism, it should arrest Hafiz
Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim and hand them over to India... I hope Nawaz
Sharif will seize this opportunity to take bold steps against
terrorism," he told reporters outside Parliament on Thursday.
Saeed is the "chief promoter" of terrorism in the world, Naidu said, calling him "an enemy of humanity".
(DD-18.12)
|
Pak should hand over Hafiz, Dawood to India: Naidu
|
|
Updated on : 18-12-2014 01:44 PM
|
|
India
on Thursday asked Pakistan to hand over Mumbai terror attack accused
Hafiz Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim, who also figures in the country's most
wanted list, to it if the neighbouring country is serious about fighting
terrorism.
|
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif should seize the opportunity in the wake of terror attack on
Peshawar school and take bold steps to combat terrorism.
"If Pakistan is serious in fighting terrorism, it should arrest Hafiz
Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim and hand them over to India... I hope Nawaz
Sharif will seize this opportunity to take bold steps against
terrorism," he told reporters outside Parliament on Thursday.
Saeed is the "chief promoter" of terrorism in the world, Naidu said, calling him "an enemy of humanity".
(DD-18.12)
|
Pak should hand over Hafiz, Dawood to India: Naidu
|
|
Updated on : 18-12-2014 01:44 PM
|
|
India
on Thursday asked Pakistan to hand over Mumbai terror attack accused
Hafiz Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim, who also figures in the country's most
wanted list, to it if the neighbouring country is serious about fighting
terrorism.
|
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif should seize the opportunity in the wake of terror attack on
Peshawar school and take bold steps to combat terrorism.
"If Pakistan is serious in fighting terrorism, it should arrest Hafiz
Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim and hand them over to India... I hope Nawaz
Sharif will seize this opportunity to take bold steps against
terrorism," he told reporters outside Parliament on Thursday.
Saeed is the "chief promoter" of terrorism in the world, Naidu said, calling him "an enemy of humanity".
(DD-18.12)
|
Pak should hand over Hafiz, Dawood to India: Naidu
|
|
Updated on : 18-12-2014 01:44 PM
|
|
India
on Thursday asked Pakistan to hand over Mumbai terror attack accused
Hafiz Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim, who also figures in the country's most
wanted list, to it if the neighbouring country is serious about fighting
terrorism.
|
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif should seize the opportunity in the wake of terror attack on
Peshawar school and take bold steps to combat terrorism.
"If Pakistan is serious in fighting terrorism, it should arrest Hafiz
Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim and hand them over to India... I hope Nawaz
Sharif will seize this opportunity to take bold steps against
terrorism," he told reporters outside Parliament on Thursday.
Saeed is the "chief promoter" of terrorism in the world, Naidu said, calling him "an enemy of humanity".
(DD-18.12)
|
|
| | |
|
Updated on : 19-12-2014 02:17 AM
|
|
In a decision that caused outrage in India, a Pakistani court on
Thursday gave bail to LeT operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, a
key planner of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, just a day after Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif said there is no 'good' and 'bad' Taliban.
|
"Anti-Terrorism Court Islamabad Judge Kausar Abbas Zaidi granted
bail to Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi," prosecution chief Chaudhry Azhar told a
news agency.
54-year-old Lakhvi and six others had filed bail
applications on Wednesday in the midst of a lawyers strike to condemn
the Peshawar school massacre that left 148 people, mostly children,
dead.
Azhar said the prosecution had to produce more witnesses before this decision had come which they were not expecting.
"We were not expecting this decision as we have to produce a good
number of witnesses in the case. We are awaiting the court's detailed
order before giving further comment on the decision," he said.
Lakhvi's counsel advocate Raja Rizwan Abbasi told a news agency that the
court had granted bail as "evidence against Lakhvi was deficient".
The
decision triggered quite an uproar in Indian political parties across
the board as they accused Pakistan of sheltering terrorists.
It also came under attack from the prosecutor in the Ajmal Kasab case, Ujwal Nikam.
The Indian mission in Islamabad is also preparing a strong response against the grant of bail to Lakhvi.
Abbasi said the defence would soon file bail applications of the other six accused.
The in-camera hearing of the case was held at Adiala Jail Rawalpindi due to security concerns.
The judge adjourned the hearing till January 7.
The
seven accused - Lakhvi, Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq,
Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum - are facing trial at
the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. His release from jail comes a day after
Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif pledged to announce a "national plan" to
tackle terrorism within a week, saying "this entire region" should be
cleaned of terrorism.
"We announce that there will be no differentiation between 'good' and
'bad' Taliban and have resolved to continue the war against terrorism
till the last terrorist is eliminated," Sharif had said after an all
party meeting to discuss counter terrorism measures in the wake of the
Peshawar massacre.
The trial of the seven suspects has progressed at a snail's pace due to repeated adjournments and various technical delays.
Lakhvi, the operational head of the banned Laskhar-e- Taiba, was one of
the key planners of the Mumbai attack that killed 166 people.
Nine of the terrorists involved in the attack were killed by Indian security forces.
The
only surviving attacker, Ajmal Kasab, was hanged after conviction by a
trial court that was confirmed and upheld by higher courts in India.
In February 2009 Rehman Malik, the then adviser to the prime minister
on the interior, had announced that Lakhvi was in custody and under
investigation as the foremost mastermind behind the Mumbai attacks.
In
November the same year, the anti-terrorism court formally charged seven
suspects, including Lakhvi, with planning and helping execute the
Mumbai attacks.
RBY@18/12
|
|
26/11 trial: LeT operations commander Lakhvi gets bail in Pakistan
|
|
Updated on : 19-12-2014 02:17 AM
|
|
In a decision that caused outrage in India, a Pakistani court on
Thursday gave bail to LeT operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, a
key planner of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, just a day after Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif said there is no 'good' and 'bad' Taliban.
|
"Anti-Terrorism Court Islamabad Judge Kausar Abbas Zaidi granted
bail to Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi," prosecution chief Chaudhry Azhar told a
news agency.
54-year-old Lakhvi and six others had filed bail
applications on Wednesday in the midst of a lawyers strike to condemn
the Peshawar school massacre that left 148 people, mostly children,
dead.
Azhar said the prosecution had to produce more witnesses before this decision had come which they were not expecting.
"We were not expecting this decision as we have to produce a good
number of witnesses in the case. We are awaiting the court's detailed
order before giving further comment on the decision," he said.
Lakhvi's counsel advocate Raja Rizwan Abbasi told a news agency that the
court had granted bail as "evidence against Lakhvi was deficient".
The
decision triggered quite an uproar in Indian political parties across
the board as they accused Pakistan of sheltering terrorists.
It also came under attack from the prosecutor in the Ajmal Kasab case, Ujwal Nikam.
The Indian mission in Islamabad is also preparing a strong response against the grant of bail to Lakhvi.
Abbasi said the defence would soon file bail applications of the other six accused.
The in-camera hearing of the case was held at Adiala Jail Rawalpindi due to security concerns.
The judge adjourned the hearing till January 7.
The
seven accused - Lakhvi, Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq,
Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum - are facing trial at
the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. His release from jail comes a day after
Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif pledged to announce a "national plan" to
tackle terrorism within a week, saying "this entire region" should be
cleaned of terrorism.
"We announce that there will be no differentiation between 'good' and
'bad' Taliban and have resolved to continue the war against terrorism
till the last terrorist is eliminated," Sharif had said after an all
party meeting to discuss counter terrorism measures in the wake of the
Peshawar massacre.
The trial of the seven suspects has progressed at a snail's pace due to repeated adjournments and various technical delays.
Lakhvi, the operational head of the banned Laskhar-e- Taiba, was one of
the key planners of the Mumbai attack that killed 166 people.
Nine of the terrorists involved in the attack were killed by Indian security forces.
The
only surviving attacker, Ajmal Kasab, was hanged after conviction by a
trial court that was confirmed and upheld by higher courts in India.
In February 2009 Rehman Malik, the then adviser to the prime minister
on the interior, had announced that Lakhvi was in custody and under
investigation as the foremost mastermind behind the Mumbai attacks.
In
November the same year, the anti-terrorism court formally charged seven
suspects, including Lakhvi, with planning and helping execute the
Mumbai attacks.
RBY@18/12
|
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India takes step towards manned space mission, tests crew module
|
|
Updated on : 18-12-2014 04:52 PM
|
|
Taking
its baby steps towards realising India's ambition to send humans into
space, ISRO on Thursday successfully tested the atmospheric re-entry of a
crew module after its heaviest launch vehicle GSLV Mk-III blasted off
from Sriharikota.
|
Exactly 5.4 minutes after liftoff at 9.30 AM from the Second Launch Pad
of Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the module separated from
the rocket at an altitude of 126 km and re-entered Earth's atmosphere
(about 80 km from sea level).
It descended in a ballistic mode and splashed down into the Bay of
Bengal, some 180 km from Indira Point, the southern tip of the Andaman
and Nicobar Islands.
The LVM3-X flight with active S200 and L110 propulsion stages and a
passive C25 stage with dummy engine, carried CARE (Crew Module
Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment) as its payload.
Weighing over three tonnes, the 2.7-metre tall cup cake shaped crew
module with a diameter of 3.1 metres, which features aluminium alloy
internal structure with composite panels and ablative thermal protection
systems, was made to safely drop down into the sea by specially-made
parachutes from Agra-based DRDO lab Aerial Delivery Research and
Development Establishment.
The experiment also witnessed the largest parachute in action ever made in the country.
The main parachute, which helped the crew module touch the waters at around 7 metre/second speed, was 31 metres in diameter.
Soon after the successful test flight, a delighted ISRO Chairman K
Radhakrishnan said, "This was a very significant day in the history of
Indian space programme for the development of the advanced launch
vehicle that could carry a 4-tonne class of communication satellite into
orbit."
The crew module, which can carry up to two to three astronauts,
withstood a heat of around 1,600 degree Celsius, while it travelled
towards the surface of the Earth attracted by gravity.
The module would be tracked by Indian Coast Guard ships and then taken
to Kamarajar Port in Ennore near Chennai, from where it would be shited
to Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala for
further study.
This experimental mission has helped ISRO with two primary lessons -- to
study the flight validation of the complex atmospheric flight regime of
LVM3 vehicle and study the re-entry characteristics of CARE crew
module.
"India started the development process a decade ago and just now we
completed the first experimental flight of the GSLV Mark III vehicle
christened as LVM Mark III," Radhakrishnan said from the Mission Control
Centre on Thursday.
"The performance of the two solid stages S200 as well as the liquid core stage L110 was as expected," he said.
"We also had another experimental module in this mission that is the
unmanned crew module test to understand the re-entry characteristics.
That also worked extremely well and the crew module has splashed down as
expected in Bay of Bengal," he said.
Radhakrishnan thanked the entire team for making the project possible
and added "with the completion of the development of the high thrust
cryogenic engine which has progressed very well, we expect to come back
with a developmental flight of this vehicle LVM-3 in another two years."
This is the first time ISRO was carrying a payload weighing over three
tonne. The national space agency's first space recovery experiment
(SRE-1) module, launched by a PSLV rocket in January 2007, weighed only
555 kg and that too was not a crew module.
Though it would take at least 10 years for India to send humans into
space, this experiment has helped the space agency to test the module
for safe return of humans from space, according to ISRO.
While the heavy duty cryogenic engine is still under development in one
of the ISRO labs at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu, Thursday’s attempt was
to primarily study the atmospheric performance of GSLV Mk III in the
first two stages.
Once ISRO masters its GSLV Mk III, the country can save a massive amount
of the foreign exchange it presently is spending to send its heavy
communication satellites through other space agencies aboard.
The heavy launch vehicle would also help India earn considerable foreign
exchange by sending heavy satellites for other countries, in addition
to the revenue PSLV rockets are already securing for ISRO's commercial
arm Antrix Corporation Limited.
This CARE module is expected to enhance ISRO's understanding on re-entry and parachute phases of crew module.
The total budget of the experimental mission was Rs 155 crore, including the crew module, which cost Rs 15 crore.
(DD-18.12)
|
|
India takes step towards manned space mission, tests crew module
India exports first warship to Mauritius
|
|
Updated on : 21-12-2014 09:59 AM
|
|
By delivering an offshore patrol vessel to Mauritius, India on Saturday exported its first warship.
|
"This is the first time that the export barrier has been breached.
This would be the first among the long line of ships that we hope to
export to various parts of the world," Minister of State for Defence Rao
Inderjit Singh said during the warship handing over ceremony.
Built by defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited
(GRSE) in Kolkata, the USD 58.5 million 'CGS Barracuda' measures 74.10 m
in length. It is capable of moving at a maximum speed of 22 knots with
an approximate displacement of 1350 tonnes.
Describing it as a
red-letter day in the history of ship-building in India, Singh said it
proves that the industry has come of age. When asked, he said the Goa
shipyard has also got orders from Sri Lanka for making offshore patrol
vessels.
GRSE's Chairman and Managing Director Rear Admiral A K
Verma said they were getting enquires for building similar ships for
other friendly nations.
They have so far made 92 warships for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.
"After our modernisation we have increased our capacity to meet the
requirements of our defence forces without overrun in time and cost,"
Verma said.
RBY@21/12
|
India exports first warship to Mauritius
|
|
Updated on : 21-12-2014 09:59 AM
|
|
By delivering an offshore patrol vessel to Mauritius, India on Saturday exported its first warship.
|
"This is the first time that the export barrier has been breached.
This would be the first among the long line of ships that we hope to
export to various parts of the world," Minister of State for Defence Rao
Inderjit Singh said during the warship handing over ceremony.
Built by defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited
(GRSE) in Kolkata, the USD 58.5 million 'CGS Barracuda' measures 74.10 m
in length. It is capable of moving at a maximum speed of 22 knots with
an approximate displacement of 1350 tonnes.
Describing it as a
red-letter day in the history of ship-building in India, Singh said it
proves that the industry has come of age. When asked, he said the Goa
shipyard has also got orders from Sri Lanka for making offshore patrol
vessels.
GRSE's Chairman and Managing Director Rear Admiral A K
Verma said they were getting enquires for building similar ships for
other friendly nations.
They have so far made 92 warships for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.
"After our modernisation we have increased our capacity to meet the
requirements of our defence forces without overrun in time and cost,"
Verma said.
RBY@21/12
|
India exports first warship to Mauritius
India exports first warship to Mauritius
|
|
Updated on : 21-12-2014 09:59 AM
|
|
By delivering an offshore patrol vessel to Mauritius, India on Saturday exported its first warship.
|
|
|
Updated on : 21-12-2014 09:59 AM
|
|
By delivering an offshore patrol vessel to Mauritius, India on Saturday exported its first warship.
|
"This is the first time that the export barrier has been breached.
This would be the first among the long line of ships that we hope to
export to various parts of the world," Minister of State for Defence Rao
Inderjit Singh said during the warship handing over ceremony.
Built by defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited
(GRSE) in Kolkata, the USD 58.5 million 'CGS Barracuda' measures 74.10 m
in length. It is capable of moving at a maximum speed of 22 knots with
an approximate displacement of 1350 tonnes.
Describing it as a
red-letter day in the history of ship-building in India, Singh said it
proves that the industry has come of age. When asked, he said the Goa
shipyard has also got orders from Sri Lanka for making offshore patrol
vessels.
GRSE's Chairman and Managing Director Rear Admiral A K
Verma said they were getting enquires for building similar ships for
other friendly nations.
They have so far made 92 warships for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard.
"After our modernisation we have increased our capacity to meet the
requirements of our defence forces without overrun in time and cost,"
Verma said.
RBY@21/12
|
|
|
Updated on : 18-12-2014 04:52 PM
|
|
Taking
its baby steps towards realising India's ambition to send humans into
space, ISRO on Thursday successfully tested the atmospheric re-entry of a
crew module after its heaviest launch vehicle GSLV Mk-III blasted off
from Sriharikota.
|
Exactly 5.4 minutes after liftoff at 9.30 AM from the Second Launch Pad
of Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the module separated from
the rocket at an altitude of 126 km and re-entered Earth's atmosphere
(about 80 km from sea level).
It descended in a ballistic mode and splashed down into the Bay of
Bengal, some 180 km from Indira Point, the southern tip of the Andaman
and Nicobar Islands.
The LVM3-X flight with active S200 and L110 propulsion stages and a
passive C25 stage with dummy engine, carried CARE (Crew Module
Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment) as its payload.
Weighing over three tonnes, the 2.7-metre tall cup cake shaped crew
module with a diameter of 3.1 metres, which features aluminium alloy
internal structure with composite panels and ablative thermal protection
systems, was made to safely drop down into the sea by specially-made
parachutes from Agra-based DRDO lab Aerial Delivery Research and
Development Establishment.
The experiment also witnessed the largest parachute in action ever made in the country.
The main parachute, which helped the crew module touch the waters at around 7 metre/second speed, was 31 metres in diameter.
Soon after the successful test flight, a delighted ISRO Chairman K
Radhakrishnan said, "This was a very significant day in the history of
Indian space programme for the development of the advanced launch
vehicle that could carry a 4-tonne class of communication satellite into
orbit."
The crew module, which can carry up to two to three astronauts,
withstood a heat of around 1,600 degree Celsius, while it travelled
towards the surface of the Earth attracted by gravity.
The module would be tracked by Indian Coast Guard ships and then taken
to Kamarajar Port in Ennore near Chennai, from where it would be shited
to Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala for
further study.
This experimental mission has helped ISRO with two primary lessons -- to
study the flight validation of the complex atmospheric flight regime of
LVM3 vehicle and study the re-entry characteristics of CARE crew
module.
"India started the development process a decade ago and just now we
completed the first experimental flight of the GSLV Mark III vehicle
christened as LVM Mark III," Radhakrishnan said from the Mission Control
Centre on Thursday.
"The performance of the two solid stages S200 as well as the liquid core stage L110 was as expected," he said.
"We also had another experimental module in this mission that is the
unmanned crew module test to understand the re-entry characteristics.
That also worked extremely well and the crew module has splashed down as
expected in Bay of Bengal," he said.
Radhakrishnan thanked the entire team for making the project possible
and added "with the completion of the development of the high thrust
cryogenic engine which has progressed very well, we expect to come back
with a developmental flight of this vehicle LVM-3 in another two years."
This is the first time ISRO was carrying a payload weighing over three
tonne. The national space agency's first space recovery experiment
(SRE-1) module, launched by a PSLV rocket in January 2007, weighed only
555 kg and that too was not a crew module.
Though it would take at least 10 years for India to send humans into
space, this experiment has helped the space agency to test the module
for safe return of humans from space, according to ISRO.
While the heavy duty cryogenic engine is still under development in one
of the ISRO labs at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu, Thursday’s attempt was
to primarily study the atmospheric performance of GSLV Mk III in the
first two stages.
Once ISRO masters its GSLV Mk III, the country can save a massive amount
of the foreign exchange it presently is spending to send its heavy
communication satellites through other space agencies aboard.
The heavy launch vehicle would also help India earn considerable foreign
exchange by sending heavy satellites for other countries, in addition
to the revenue PSLV rockets are already securing for ISRO's commercial
arm Antrix Corporation Limited.
This CARE module is expected to enhance ISRO's understanding on re-entry and parachute phases of crew module.
The total budget of the experimental mission was Rs 155 crore, including the crew module, which cost Rs 15 crore.
(DD-18.12)
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